SONICHAR (Société Nigerienne de Charbon) in Tchirozerine (north of Agadez) extracts coal from an open pit and fuels an electricity generating plant that supplies energy to the uranium mines. Based on 2012 reports by the government of Niger, 246016 tons of coal were extracted by SONICHAR in 2011. There are additional coal deposits to the south and west that are of a higher quality and may be exploitable. Substantial deposits of phosphates, coal, iron, limestone, and gypsum have also been found in Niger.
SONICHAR (Société Nigerienne de Charbon) in Tchirozerine (north of Agadez) extracts coal from an open pit and fuels an electricity generating plant that supplies energy to the uranium mines Based on 2012 reports by the government of Niger 246016 tons of coal were extracted by SONICHAR in 2011. There are additional coal deposits to the south and west that are o,f a higher quality and may be exploitable. Substantial deposits of phos.phates, coal, iron, limestone, and gypsum have also been found in Niger.