page_title: SOMAIR
section_title: Geography
hierarchical_section_title: SOMAIR / Geography
caption_attribution_description: mine à ciel ouvert d'Arlit (Niger)
context_page_description: SOMAIR is a national mining company of Niger in the mining area of its northern zone.
  Established in 1968, it started uranium mining at the Arlit deposit in 1971, mining 0.30 - 0.35% ore down to depth of 60 metres depth. By 1981, the company was producing 2100 tU/yr and by 2006 it was producing 1565 tU at the Tamou deposit. The production peaked to 3065 tU in 2012. The resources, according to the Red Book, are assessed at 23,170 tU, as of 2010, at 42,200 tU of 0.25%U grade recoverable conventionally, and 5500 tU of 0.07%U grade from heap leaching. SOMAIR is one of two national mining companies in Niger, the other being COMINAK in the nearby Akokan.
context_section_description: Arlit and Akokan are the twin mining towns of SOMAIR.  They are situated on the southern border of the Sahara desert, where uranium is extracted, and are on the western fringe of the Aïr Mountains. They are located 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) to the north-east of Niamey, the capital of Niger.
caption: Arlit mine under SOMAIR in Niger
exif: {}