Strike Begins At Chinese Uranium Mine In Niger

Published on Wednesday March 20 2013 (AEST)  

Workers at a China National Nuclear Corporation (SinoU) uranium mine in northern Niger have gone on a 72-hour strike, trade union officials say.



On Tuesday, Boubacar Mamane, a spokesman for the Syntramines labor union, said 680 workers at SinoU have gone on strike to demand better wages and bonus payments, Reuters reported.

 "Management refused to pay our allowances and production bonus despite having promised to do so last year. If nothing is done, we will launch an unlimited strike," Mamane said.

SinoU officials and the Nigerien government, which owns 33 percent of the mine, were not available to comment on the action. SinoU and its partners have a majority stake in the 700 ton-per-year SOMINA mine.

Production at the mine kicked off in 2011 and is expected to increase to 2,500 tons annually in 2015. SinoU and its partners have a majority stake in the 700 ton-per-year SOMINA mine, whose production kicked off in 2011 and is expected to increase its output to 2,500 tons annually in 2015.

 In 2007, SOMINA was established 160 kilometers southwest of Arlit and 150 kilometers northwest of Agadez, in the Agadez region of northern Niger.

Niger is the top supplier of uranium to the nuclear power industry of France.

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