Foreigners from Urano or visiting the Arlit region, where the group operates a uranium mine, are staying at a complex called the “Base of Life” located in Akokan, near the city of Arlit.
The French Mining Investment Orano Group announced this Friday that it had evacuated “foreigners” from northern Niger to the capital, Niamey, after receiving a “security” warning. The group said in a statement on Thursday evening that “the Orano administration in Niger was informed of a security incident in a village located halfway between the Malian border and the city of Arlit.” “Immediately, measures were taken to protect sites and personnel, and the security of industrial facilities was enhanced,” she added.
“In accordance with the procedures of the protection plan and as a precautionary measure, the foreigners” in Orano and other foreigners on mission as “potential targets located at the life base in Akoukane, were evacuated to Niamey by plane under protection,” she added.
Foreigners from Urano or visiting the Arlit region, where the group operates a uranium mine, stay in a complex called “Base of Life” located in Akokan, near the city of Arlit.
The Orano Group (formerly Areva) confirmed that “the return of the evacuees is expected to take place in the next few days once it is confirmed that all risks have dissipated.”
On the night of September 15 to 16, 2010, gunmen kidnapped five Frenchmen, including a woman, Françoise Laribe, in addition to a Malagasy and Togolese who all work for the Areva company, from the Arlit uranium extraction site in which Areva operates in northern Niger.
After five months of captivity, on 25 February 2011, Françoise Laribe, who had been ill, was released together with the Malagasy and Togolese staff.
The other four hostages were released on October 29, 2013, after 1,139 days of detention in the Sahel desert.
