Editing Economy of Niger (section)

====Mining====
{{Main|Oil and mining industry of Niger|Coal mining in Niger}}
The Niger mining industry is the main source of national exports, of which uranium is the largest export. Niger has been a uranium exporter since the 1960s and has had substantial export earnings and rapid economic growth during the 1960s and 1970s. The persistent [[uranium]] price slump has brought lower revenues for Niger's uranium sector, although it still provides 72% of national export proceeds. When the uranium-led boom ended in the early 1980s the economy stagnated, and new investment since then has been limited. Niger's two uranium mines—[[SOMAIR]]'s open pit mine and [[COMINAK]]'s underground mine—are owned by a French-led consortium and operated by French company [[Orano]].<ref name="reuters.com">{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/areva-niger-idUKL6N0OC2TB20140526|title=UPDATE 3-Areva signs uranium deal with Niger, delays new mine|work=Reuters|access-date=7 February 2015|archive-date=3 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403215858/https://uk.reuters.com/article/areva-niger-idUKL6N0OC2TB20140526|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="dw.de">{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.de/niger-sets-new-terms-in-uranium-ore-deal-with-areva/a-17667618|title=Niger sets new terms in uranium ore deal with Areva|work=DW.DE|access-date=7 February 2015|archive-date=20 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141120193015/http://www.dw.de/niger-sets-new-terms-in-uranium-ore-deal-with-areva/a-17667618|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{As of|2007}}, many licences have been sold to other companies from countries such as India, China, Canada and Australia in order to exploit new deposits. In 2013, the government of Niger sought to increase its uranium revenue by subjecting the two mining companies to a 2006 Mining Law. The government argued that the application of the new law will balance an otherwise unfavorable partnership between the government and [[Areva]]. The company resisted the application of the new law that it feared would jeopardize the financial health of the companies, citing declining market uranium prices and unfavorable market conditions. In 2014, following nearly a year long negotiation with the government of Niger, Areva agreed to the application of 2006 Mining Law of Niger, which would increase the government's uranium revenues from 5 to 12%.<ref name="reuters.com" /><ref name="dw.de" />{{update inline|date=January 2019}}

[[File:Niger millet Koremairwa 1214.jpg|thumb|A farmer collecting [[millet]] in [[Koré Maïroua|Koremairwa]] village in the [[Dosso (department)|Dosso]] department.]]
In addition to uranium, exploitable deposits of gold are known to exist in Niger in the region between the Niger River and the border with Burkina Faso. In 2004, the first Nigerien gold ingot was produced from the [[Samira Hill Gold Mine]], in [[Tera Department]]. The [[Samira Hill Gold Mine]] thus became the first commercial gold production in the country. The reserves at the location were estimated at 10,073,626 tons at an average grade of {{convert|2.21|g|oz}} per ton from which {{convert|19,200|kg|lb}} will be recovered over a six-year mine life. Other gold deposits are believed to be in nearby areas known as the "Samira Horizon", which is located between [[Gotheye]] and [[Ouallam]].<ref>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5474.htm Background Note:Niger] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524232128/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5474.htm |date=2019-05-24 }}, United States State Department, Bureau of Public Affairs: Electronic Information and Publications Office. Bureau of African Affairs. September 2008</ref>

SONICHAR (Société Nigerienne de Charbon) in [[Tchirozerine]] (north of [[Agadez]]) extracts coal from an open pit and fuels an electricity generating plant that supplies energy to the uranium mines. Based on 2012 reports by the government of Niger, 246016 tons of coal were extracted by SONICHAR in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stat-niger.org/statistique/file/Annuaires_Statistiques/INS_2012/AS2007-2011INDUSTRIEEXT.pdf|title=– Coal Production and Utilization 2007–2011 Report P218|access-date=2018-12-17|archive-date=2017-10-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010190440/http://www.stat-niger.org/statistique/file/Annuaires_Statistiques/INS_2012/AS2007-2011INDUSTRIEEXT.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> There are additional coal deposits to the south and west that are of a higher quality and may be exploitable. Substantial deposits of [[phosphates]], coal, [[Iron ore|iron]], [[limestone]], and [[gypsum]] have also been found in Niger.