Green Warriors: Cursed Uranium

In this episode, we follow the uranium path from Niger to Europe to reveal the extent of the radioactive pollution created.

In the Niger desert, home to some of the largest uranium reserves in the world, lies the Areva mine. Every year, Niger produces over 2,500 tonnes of yellow cake, a uranium concentrate, creating tonnes of toxic waste. Close to the mine is the village of Arlit, where radioactivity levels exceed those of the Chernobyl Prohibited Zone. Dust from the mine is carried on the winds into people’s houses, endangering their lives and killing local wildlife.

From Niger, the Uranium is shipped to the Orano plant in Narbonne, France, which has become the gateway of uranium to Europe. Here it is purified before being sent on to nuclear plants, a process which again causes tonnes of toxic waste. Near the plant, radioactivity levels are 50 times normal and campaigners call for tighter regulation.

The Green Warriors team take dozens of samples from residents in both Arlit and Narbonne to learn more about uranium pollution. Their findings trigger a political debate and are used as evidence in a lawsuit against the mining company.

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