Areva uranium prospection in Niger attacked by armed group

Areva uranium prospection in Niger attacked by armed group
04.20.07, 10:34 AM ET

PARIS (Thomson Financial) - An uranium prospection camp belonging to Areva in Niger has been attacked by an armed group, according to industrial sources in the capital, Niamey. The attack took place at around 3.30 am at the site at Imouraren, about 85 km south of Arlit, the country's major uranium production region, the sources said. One member of the Niger armed forces was killed and three injured in the attack, waged by 20-30 heavily armed men, who arrived in three 4X4 vehicles, the sources added. Once inside the camp, the raiders took six vehicles and many mobile phones. They claimed to belong to Mouvement des Nigeriens pour la Justice (MNJ), a group believed to be led by Aboubacar Alambo, the sources said. Around 250 people were in the camp, which is currently Areva's biggest exploration project in Niger. It is the first attack of this type for some years,' a sector source said. Niger is the world's third largest uranium producer with a 9 pct market share in 2003.