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EJOLT The radiological impact of uranium extraction Fact sheet by AREVA in northern 15

The project Nuclear Energy / The companies Societe des Mines de l'air (SOMAÏR) and Compagnie Minière d'Akouta (COMINAK) are mining uranium deposits in northern Niger, in a Keywords desert area close to the Air Mountains,  Uranium Mines near the towns of and Akokan.  Uranium Mills The two mining companies are AREVA  AREVA subsidiaries. In 2001, 63.4 percent of AREVA shares were SOMAIR capital, CRIIRAD discovered radioactive scrap metal  COMINAK from the uranium mines was being sold on and 34 percent was owned by  SOMAÏR the market in Arlit streets COMINAK. The remaining 2.6 percent of Source: CRIIRAD, December 2003  Arlit shares were divided among the Niger National Office of Mining Resources Anxious about the adverse effects of  Niger (ONAREM), and in the case of uranium extraction on humans and COMINAK, a Japanese company, the animals, Aghir in’Man’s President M. Overseas Uranium Resources Almoustapha Alcahen contacted the Development (OURD) and Enusa, a Commission for Independent Research Spanish company. and Information about Radiation (CRIIRAD) in 2002. CRIIRAD is a Established in 1968, SOMAÏR continues French NGO whose goal is to improve to extract uranium from open pits, which people’s access to information on and are typically 70 metres (230 feet) in protection from ionising radiation from all depth, and operates a uranium mill with sources (natural, medical, nuclear). an annual (maximum) capacity of 2,300 CRIIRAD has been studying the impact tons. of uranium mines in France since 1992.

COMINAK was created in 1974. It still In cooperation with Aghir in’Man, operates an underground mine for CRIIRAD conducted a scientific mission uranium extraction at a depth of about to Arlit in December 2003. This mission 250 metres (820 feet), and a uranium was organized with Sherpa, a French mill with an annual (maximum) capacity NGO of lawyers willing to protect the of 2,500 tons. rights of people confronted with powerful international companies. By 2008, both companies had produced more than 100,000 tons of uranium. CRIIRAD continues to cooperate with Aghir in’Man to gather independent The conflict information on the impact of mining activities. Other groups, such as In 2002, local non-governmental Greenpeace also conducted an organisation (NGO) Aghir in’Man independent study in Arlit in 2009. (“Shield of the Soul” in the Tamashek language) decided to gather independent scientific information about the impact of the mines. Members of the NGO reside in the towns where the uranium mines operate (COMINAK mines in Akokan, and SOMAÏR mines in Arlit), and many of them are mine workers, including Aghir in’Man’s President Mr Almoustapha Alcahen. Among the objectives of the NGO are to promote education, women rights, and the protection of health and the

environment.

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Radioactive tailings (from COMINAK uranium mills) stored out in the open Photo by CRIIRAD, December 2003

Impacts of the project above natural levels.  Radioactive scrap from the mines Studies by CRIIRAD showed that the and mills was sold on the markets. radiological impact of mining activities CRIIRAD discovered for instance, a was observable in many areas of the pipe with a radioactive crust that had environment: radium-226 activity of more than  The amount of radioactive 200,000 Bq/kg and a dose rate 10 substances in the water distributed to times above natural levels. A computer and radon monitoring devices being the workers and local residents by offered by CRIIRAD Laboratory the companies exceeded World These facts all show that the workers Manager Bruno Chareyron to Health Organization (WHO) and the local population are exposed to Aghir in’Man President M. standards. radiation through different pathways Almoustapha Alcahen (external irradiation, internal irradiation Source: CRIIRAD, December  Radioactive ore from the mines and 2003 through contaminated air and water, radioactive waste from the mills were etc.). The “very low doses” of radiation stored out in the open (over 35 people receive continuously have million tons of tailings). The emitted negative consequences on their health. radioactive gas (radon) and dust from these materials can easily be Outcome of the conflict dispersed by the wind.  Due to high concentrations of AREVA has always claimed that it was radioactive gas (radon) in the open extracting uranium in Niger in air, people in some parts of Akokan compliance with all national and were receiving an annual dose in international standards and regulations. People in Arlit using recycled excess of the maximal annual dose However, when faced with facts and metal for their homes limit of 1 millisievert per year. scientific evidence that confirmed the Source: CRIIRAD, December radiological impact of the uranium mines 2003  The level of radiation in some streets on the environment, and the subsequent was abnormally high due to the re- exposure of the population to radiation, use of radioactive waste rocks from AREVA had to make certain the mines. The level of gamma improvements. radiation on the street in front of the COMINAK private hospital in Akokan, For example, the contaminated cloths for instance, was about 100 times workers used at the uranium mine and

This document should be cited as: Chareyron, B., 2014. The radiological impact of uranium extraction near Arlit and Akokan in Niger, EJOLT Factsheet No 15, 3. p January 16, 2015 - Page 3

mill are now washed at the mining facilities and not at home. More on this case  Website: www.criirad.org The most contaminated wells used for supplying drinking water have been  Video: Uranium, Poisoned closed so that less radioactive water is Heritage by Dominique Hennequin used for drinking. Nonetheless, independent studies conducted in CRIIRAD Laboratory Manager November 2009 showed that the Bruno Chareyron showing uranium content in tap water was still References Aghir in’Man President M. above WHO standards. Almoustapha Alcahen how to  CRIIRAD Report No. 03-40 / use a small Geiger Muller Waste rocks on some streets in Arlit and Report of mission to Arlit, 3-11 counter to check the level of December 2003 / Exploratory ground radiation. Akokan have been removed by the Source: CRIIRAD, December companies. A house built with mission in order to produce an 2003 radioactive material has been destroyed independent evaluation of the and a new one built. Still, all radioactive radiological impact of the SOMAIR places have not yet been investigated and COMINAK uranium mines / B and decontaminated. Chareyron, 19 December 2003.

 CRIIRAD Report No. 05-17 / Some radioactive scrap available in the Impact of uranium mining by the public domain has been returned to the subsidiaries of COGEMA-AREVA mine, but all of the radioactive material in Niger / Results of the analyses reused by the locals has yet to be checked. conducted by the CRIIRAD laboratory in 2004 and early 2005 / B Chareyron, April 2005. Children in the suburbs of Arlit Presently, much remains to be done, but stepping on radioactive waste the existence of a local NGO such as  Source: CRIIRAD, December CRIIRAD Note No. 07-53 / 2003 Aghir in’Man, supported by an Presence of radioactive material in independent scientific institution like the public domain at Arlit and CRIIRAD, empowers the population in Akokan (Niger), close to the mines the struggle to secure improved of SOMAIR and COMINAK environmental protection. However, the (AREVA) / B. Chareyron, May fight for more environmental justice will 2007. no doubt be a long-term endeavour.  CRIIRAD press release / AREVA

in Niger / CRIIRAD and AGHIR IN MAN call for the immediate removal of the radioactive waste

discovered in the streets of Akokan This publication was developed as in Niger, and question Mme a part of the project Environmental Lauvergeon, president of AREVA, Justice Organisations, Liabilities and Trade (EJOLT) (FP7-Science about the practices of her group’s in Society-2010-1, under grant subsidiaries / 15 May 2007. agreement no 266642). The views and opinions expressed in all  CRIIRAD Note No. 08-02 / EJOLT publications reflect the AREVA: From rhetoric to reality / authors’ view and the European Union is not liable for any use that The example of uranium mines in may be made of the information Niger / B Chareyron, 30 January contained therein. EJOLT aims to 2008. improve policy responses to and support collaborative research  CRIIRAD Report No. 10-09 / and action on environmental conflicts through capacity building Remarks on the radiological of environmental justice groups situation in the vicinity of the around the world. Visit our free uranium mines operated by resource library and database at SOMAIR and COMINAK in www.ejolt.org or Facebook (www.facebook.com/ejolt) or Northern Niger / Study conducted follow tweets (@EnvJustice) to on behalf of Greenpeace stay current on latest news and International / B. Chareyron, 12 events. February 2010.