French nuclear fuels company Orano has begun arbitration proceedings against Niger after its licence to operate at the Imouraren uranium deposit was withdrawn earlier this year.

Orano said in a statement on 20 December that the move comes after several months of unsuccessful attempts at mediation and conciliation.

It said it had presented the West African country with a concrete, technical proposal, which would have allowed the Imouraren deposit to be exploited as quickly as possible, and after works at the site had resumed in June.

Orano said it had engaged the Paris-based Clay Arbitration law firm to represent the company.