KEY POINTS
- Botswana has granted Orano three new uranium prospecting licences, taking its total to 18.
- The country is diversifying beyond diamonds by developing uranium and other mineral resources.
- Orano’s expansion in Botswana follows its exit from Niger after the nationalisation of its uranium operation.
Botswana has expanded its push into uranium exploration after granting three new prospecting licences to French state-owned nuclear company Orano Mining, according to official mining registry records cited by Reuters.
The new licences bring Orano’s total number of uranium exploration licences in Botswana to 18, highlighting the company’s growing interest in the southern African country’s mineral resources.
The three new licences cover blocks in the central Kalahari Desert, with each area measuring about 970 hectares. The licences are valid for three years and are scheduled to expire in March 2029.
Botswana has considerable uranium deposits and several exploration projects but currently has no operating uranium mine. The country is seeking to develop its uranium resources as part of efforts to reduce its heavy dependence on diamonds.
Botswana Looks Beyond Diamonds
Diamonds have traditionally been the backbone of Botswana’s economy, helping the country build a reputation as one of Africa’s more stable and successful economies.
However, a prolonged downturn in the global diamond market, partly linked to the growing popularity of lab-grown diamonds, has put pressure on the country’s mining revenues.
The government is therefore looking to diversify its mineral sector by increasing investment and exploration in uranium, copper and other resources.
Uranium is particularly attractive because it is primarily used as fuel for nuclear power plants, creating opportunities for Botswana to participate in the growing global nuclear energy supply chain.
Neighbouring Namibia is already a major player in the sector and ranks as the world’s third-largest uranium producer by output.
The latest licences are located next to 15 licences awarded in October 2025 to Compagnie Française de Mines et Métaux, an Orano subsidiary.
The expansion underlines the French company’s increasing commitment to uranium exploration in Botswana.
Official corporate records also show that Orano established a local subsidiary in Botswana on April 10, 2026. The registration came shortly after Botswana President Duma Boko met French President Emmanuel Macron and senior Orano officials in France on April 8.
