Most of the uranium in Niger is mined, exported and paid for under contract with Areva corporation subsidiaries Somaïr and Cominak.
Areva Group builds nuclear reactors and supplies uranium to EdF (France Electricity corporation) which provides 80%-90% of France's electricity, depending on loading methods, necessity and time of day.
French government, through various agencies, owns 90% of Areva and 85% of EdF. Kuwait sovereign fund owns under 5% of Areva.
Our small (but growing) military contingent in Niger helps make sure that uranium doesn't fall into the wrong hands, as well as help check insurgent and terrorist groups, in the area, the best known of which is Boko Haram, which has been responsible for increasing number of attacks recently.