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Russia's Rosatom, France's Orano deny deal talks on Niger nuclear assets

Russia's Rosatom and France's Orano denied they have held talks about a potential offer concerning uranium assets held by Orano in Niger, the groups said, declining a report stating they were in discussions.

Russia has had contacts with Niger's military authorities as it seeks to take control of uranium assets held by French nuclear group Orano in the West African nation, Bloomberg said in a. report on Monday.

However, Russian state nuclear company Rosatom stated on Tuesday. it had no strategies to get uranium mining properties.

Rosatom declines as totally unreliable the reports on its. ' plans' to get uranium mining assets in Niger owned by. Orano, Rosatom informed .

In a declaration on Monday, Orano, which has a significant uranium. mining operation in the north of the nation, stated it was not. familiar with any discussions with Rosatom or other Russian entities.

Orano's operations have actually continued in spite of a military coup in. July in 2015.

In all cases, Orano complies and will comply with the. worldwide sanctions regimes relevant to it, the business. said.

The West African nation has the continent's highest-grade. uranium ores and is the world's seventh-biggest producer of. uranium, the radioactive metal utilized as fuel for atomic energy.

In January, Niger's self-appointed government briefly. suspended the approving of new mining licences and bought an. audit of the sector.