The deployment has been called due to the increased threat posed to the country’s establishments from Islamist rebels from neighboring Mali.
Military sources have confirmed reports that the French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had ordered for a deployment following a French offensive against al-Qaeda-linked rebels threatening to turn Niger into a base for international attacks.
Equipment and Special Forces would arrive at the company’s uranium production sites in Arlit and Imouraren soon, French weekly magazine Le Point quoted a military source as saying.
Nigerian authorities have, however, not sanctioned any such moves according to a defense ministry official quoted by Reuters.
"It’s true that the terrorist threat has increased today, but as far as I know there is no such agreement in place at the moment," the official said.
An Areva spokeswoman noted that there will be no staff reduction in Niger and that the French authorities had reviewed the firm’s security plan for its employees.
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