Africa’s uranium back on America’s radar

Uranium is back on the USA’s strategic world map and interest in Africa’s vast deposits is growing.

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and Endorphin Expeditions and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine.       

In November last year, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) added uranium to the country’s critical minerals list.

Uranium had been on the 2018 list, was removed in 2022, and then reinstated in 2025 because of its importance for energy security, nuclear power, defense applications and supply chain resilience.

U.S. wants to diversify supply

This is good news for Africa.

The U.S. is looking to diversify uranium supply away from geopolitical rivals and to reduce imports, especially from Russia.

African countries most likely on the radar include Namibia and Niger (already two of the top uranium producers in the world), Mauritania, South Africa and Tanzania.

Namibia and Mauritania of high interest

In my opinion Namibia and Mauritania are the most interesting. Both are politically stable, have strong relations with Western countries and boasts a growing mining sector.

Moreover, both are increasingly attracting attention from international investors.

While Namibia has been a top producer for many years, Mauritania has not yet produced uranium, although it has substantial uranium deposits.

Most known uranium resources occur in the northern part of the country within the Reguibat Shield, particularly in the Tiris region near the border with Western Sahara.

Aura’s Tiris is most advanced

Geological studies indicate that the area hosts extensive calcrete-style uranium mineralization similar to some deposits found in Namibia.

The most advanced uranium development is the Tiris Uranium Project, being developed by Australian listed by Aura Energy.

Aura recently announced that it is talks with U.S. International Development Finance Corporation for a loan of up to USD170-million to support the Tiris uranium project. They further state that additional funding could come from a U.S. investment fund and a strategic investor interested in taking an equity stake.

According to Phil Mitchell, Executive Chairman of Aura Energy, the company expects to publish a bankable feasibility study in September 2026 and reach a final investment decision before the end of the year.

More about Africa on WhyAfrica’s website

For more about Namibia, Mauritania and uranium mining, visit the WhyAfrica website, your one stop shop for on the ground information and business intelligence about Africa.

Image: An aerial shot of a uranium project in Namibia. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Africa’s uranium back on America’s radar