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    US backs Global Atomic’s Niger uranium mine: capex, IRR and risk notes for engineers

    September 18, 2026|

    Reviewed by Tom Sullivan

    US backs Global Atomic’s Niger uranium mine: capex, IRR and risk notes for engineers

    First reported on MINING.com

    30 Second Briefing

    US government agency International Development Finance Corp. has conditionally approved a US$414.2 million loan for Global Atomic to build the Dasa uranium mine in Niger, a 40% increase on its 2024 proposal and sized to match updated capex for the 1,000 t/d underground operation. Dasa hosts 73 million lb U3O8 in probable reserves at 4,113 ppm and is expected to produce 68.1 million lb over 23 years, with a 57% post-tax IRR and US$917 million NPV at US$75/lb. Disbursement hinges on securing an export route for U3O8, extending the mining convention and permit, and finalising agreements with Niger’s government and the DFC.

    Technical Brief

    • Feasibility study pegs initial capex at US$208 million with a 2.2‑year payback period.
    • Underground development has already advanced down to the first ore zone ahead of full mine build.
    • Global Atomic has secured uranium offtake for 1.3 million lb U3O8 per year.
    • Dasa’s probable reserves total 73 million lb U3O8 in 8 Mt at 4,113 ppm.
    • Throughput is planned at 1,000 t/d, supporting a 23‑year mine life under the current plan.
    • Loan disbursement requires extension of the mining convention and permit to match facility tenor.
    • A defined, government‑approved export route for processed U3O8 is a precondition for financing drawdown.

    Our Take

    In our database, this Global Atomic item is one of a small cluster where the US International Development Finance Corp. backs upstream mining (including Syrah Resources’ graphite and McEwen Copper’s Argentina project), indicating DFC is becoming a recurring counterparty for large-scale resource project finance rather than a one-off lender.

    With Niger’s uranium currently contributing only about 2% of global mine output, a 23‑year operation at Dasa plus a revived Madaouela project would likely give Niamey more leverage in future negotiations with operators such as Orano, especially after the state’s assertive moves around the Somaïr mine.

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    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

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