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File:Yellowcake-exhibit-peterborough.jpg

Reference specimen · Solarence, CC BY-SA 4.0

Energy

Sample data

Uranium U

Uranium fuels nuclear reactors. Demand is rising with new builds, life extensions and interest in small modular reactors, while supply is concentrated in Kazakhstan, Canada, Namibia and Australia. Namibia is the world's #3 producer (Husab, Rössing, Langer Heinrich) and Niger was a major source until the 2023 coup and the 2025 nationalisation of SOMAÏR. Uranium is a nuclear material, so it can only be bought and sold by licensed parties under state and IAEA controls.

Availability
Information only — licensed counterparties by enquiry
African sources
Namibia · Niger · South Africa · Malawi · Tanzania
Traded as
Uranium ore concentrate · Downstream
HS codes
2612.10 · 2844.10

Controlled supply

This mineral is subject to nuclear material — licensed parties only, radioactive cargo handling. Offers are published only after ARAM has reviewed the supporting documents, and some details are visible to verified companies only.

What is traded

  • Uranium ore concentrate (UOC)

    Unit: lb · HS 2612.10

    U3O8 'yellowcake', ≥65–85% U; specification ASTM C967; shipped in sealed 200 L drums

  • Downstream (outside Africa): conversion to UF6, enrichment, fuel fabrication

    Unit: lb · HS 2844.10

Uses

  • Nuclear power generation (almost entirely)
  • Research reactors, medical isotopes (small)

ARAM sourcing assessment

Include as research and an information page, not an open listing. The platform can connect licensed utilities and traders with Namibian developers seeking offtake, with enquiry-only and licence-verified access. Listing status: Not offered publicly (licensed counterparties by enquiry).

On the ground · Uranium

The mines behind the supply.

The mines and districts that define supply, with their operators. They are shown for geographic context: third-party operations, not ARAM sites, and not the source of any particular lot. Ownership and status as publicly reported in 2026.

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano visits the Rossing uranium mine during his official visit to Namibia. 12 December 2013

Photo Credit: Conleth Brady / IAEAProducing mine

Namibia

Rössing

Operated by China National Nuclear Corporation

A large open-pit uranium mine in the Namib Desert, operating since 1976 with life extended to 2036.

Photo: IAEA Imagebank · CC BY-SA 2.0
Entry panel at the Somaïr Restaurant in Arlit, Niger.Mining district

Niger

Arlit

Operated by SOMAÏR (nationalised by Niger in 2025)

The uranium mining town of the Aïr region; SOMAÏR was nationalised in June 2025 after a dispute with Orano.

Photo: NigerTZai · CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Solarence, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0

  • Weirdmeister, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Henk Smeets – tomeikminerals.com, CC BY 4.0

  • IAEA Imagebank, CC BY-SA 2.0

  • Darla Sondrol, CC0

Reference specimens of the ore minerals and products, from public collections. They illustrate the material, not a specific ARAM lot or source.