GoviEx Uranium no longer has rights over the perimeter of the Madaouela mining permit following the Niger government’s decision on Thursday (4 July 2024) to withdraw its licence, dealing a major blow to the development of one of the world’s largest uranium projects.

The Vancouver-based uranium miner said it had been informed by the Niger government, by way of a letter from the minister of mines, that it no longer has rights over the perimeter of the permit, which is now in the public domain.

GoviEx said the decision to withdraw the company’s mining rights “does not follow the withdrawal procedure prescribed under the applicable mining code” and it reserves the right to challenge the decision before the competent national or international jurisdictions.

The company had feared that its licence could be revoked if mining could not start by 3 July 2024, a deadline set by Niger’s military leaders, who came to power on 26 July 2023.