Open pit uranium mines in Arlit, Niger

Sentinel-2 MSI acquired on 28 December 2015 at 10:04:22 UTC
Sentinel-1 CSAR acquired on 01 January 2016 at 17:40:11 UTC
Sentinel-2 MSI acquired on 31 December 2020 at 10:04:11 UTC
Sentinel-1 CSAR IW acquired on 15 February 2021 at 17:40:34 UTC
Author(s): Sentinel Vision team, VisioTerra, France - svp@visioterra.fr
Keyword(s): Natural ressources, energy, open pit mines, security, urban growth, Niger
Fig. 1 - S2 (28.12.2015) - Founded in 1969 following the discovery of uranium, it has grown around the mining industry.
Fig. 2 - S2 (31.12.2020) - The animation shows the evolution that took place in five years in the pits in Arlit and Akouta.
The population around these cities is fast increasing as it is demonstrated by the urban growth.
Fig. 3 - S1 (01.01.2016) - Two large uranium mines, at Arlit and nearby Akouta, are exploited by open top strip mining.
Fig. 4 - S1 (15.02.2021) - At its peak in the 1980s, uranium represented 90% of Niger's exports by value.