New developments at the DASA Project

New developments at the DASA Project

In April 2025, the DASA Project reached new milestones in its implementation. After many months of earthworks and excavation, followed by the erection of steel framework, concrete pouring has begun at the sulfuric acid plant construction sites in the smelter, furnace, and sulfur filter areas, as well as at the plant’s process control laboratory construction site.

Similarly, work on the camp extension is progressing rapidly, with more than 75% of the 250-bed “Camp Lida” construction site now complete, following the commissioning of 60 senior rooms in March 2025.

May Day 2025 celebrations in AGADEZ

May Day 2025 celebrations in AGADEZ

SOMIDA workers took part in the May1st 2025 Labor Day parade organized by professional organizations in Agadez under the authority of the regional governor, Brigadier General Ibrah Boulama.

This colorful parade was an opportunity for our representatives to show their pride in belonging to SOMIDA and participating in the construction of this great Industrial Site which is already the pride of the region.

Well done to our representatives. 

SOMIDA honored at JAPRP 2025 in Tillabéry

SOMIDA honored at JAPRP 2025 in Tillabéry

SOMIDA at the 29th African Day for Occupational Risk Prevention (JAPRP 2025) in Tillabéry, Niger

From April 25 to 26, 2025, SOMIDA took part in the workshop organized by the CNN as part of the African Day of Occupational Risk Prevention (JAPRP 2025), under the central theme: ” Occupational risk prevention in the face of digital transformation and technological change: opportunities, challenges and adaptation strategies”, with an associated sub-theme entitled “Prevention and management of food poisoning in the workplace”.

Numerous senior officials from ministries, the CNSS, public and private companies, occupational health and safety (OHS) associations, occupational medicine and university and vocational school students took part in the meeting. Société Minière de DASA, invited to this important forum, was represented by four members of its Occupational Health and Safety Committee (CSST).

Our representatives showcased exceptionally well their expertise in 3 areas:

  • use of the Automatic Fire Suppression System (ANSUL)
  • remote-controlled machine operation
  • food poisoning prevention actions at the DASA site

The presentations on the main and secondary themes of the workshop were very well received. Participants praised SOMIDA’s new features in general, as well as best practices in workplace catering management and exemplary preventive actions.

Risk Analysis Workshop: Ensuring Safety in Plant Construction

Risk Analysis Workshop: Ensuring Safety in Plant Construction

Enhancing the safety and efficiency of plant construction

The Plant construction project is moving ahead apace. The earthworks currently underway will soon give way to civil engineering works, for which the company in charge is already deployed on the DASA site.

Following validation of the process layout, the Engineering Department has already delivered the bulk of the manufacturing drawings to the factories, and produced the functional assembly drawings.

These plans, which define the layout of equipment and components in the plant’s various workshops, are an important step in ensuring the safety of operations and the success of production programs. For these reasons, the Project decided to hold a review workshop to examine, criticize and amend all the functional diagrams and their dimensioning.

This exercise, which took place over 4 days – from January 13 to 16 – at SOMIDA headquarters, brought together :

  • Project management,
  • Project managers, responsible for purchasing & logistics, planning, construction management, quality control and costs;
  • Engineering office
  • Operational staff from the DASA site
  • Experienced Niger experts from outside the project
  • Executives from the Ministry of Mines.

The 35 participants unabashedly reviewed the plant’s functional diagrams and suggested corrections to anything they felt posed a risk to the safety and performance of future operations.

SOMIDA Supports the University Of Agadez

SOMIDA Supports the University Of Agadez

Empowering Future Geologists

The Geology Department at the University of Agadez has received significant support from the Société Minière de DASA – SOMIDA.

A donation consisting of a laptop computer and a high-definition optical microscope was presented by SOMIDA to the Geology Department team led by Dr A. Wahid SANI, in the presence of the University’s Rector.

This equipment,’ said Dr SANI, ’will be extremely useful for the practical training of our students, as well as for academic research to determine the mechanisms by which mineralisation occurs in geological strata, and to improve the region’s mining potential.

The Chairman and CEO of Global Atomic, who was in Niamey, honoured the brief ceremony with his presence and said he was convinced that geological and mining research is a lever for development, and that more young people should get involved in this field.

DASA Site Completes First Large Ventilation Shaft

DASA Site Completes First Large Ventilation Shaft

Leveraging Advanced Machinery to Build a Safer Mine

6 October, 2024 – the DASA Site has successfully completed the sinking of its first 5.1-meter diameter ventilation shaft. This shaft, along with the second one to be also installed in Niger, forms the backbone of the mine’s ventilation system, enabling production for the initial 10 years.

Drilling such a large-diameter shaft requires extensive expertise, advanced technological resources, and precise organization.

This operation requires a machine with both substantial mechanical power and electrical capacity. The operation utilized the RD7-150 Raise Borer from Master Drilling, a 46-ton DC machine equipped with dual 380 kW motors. This powerful machine can drill holes ranging from 3.1 to 7.1 meters in diameter, generating 7,200 kN of force, and 1,240 Nm of torque, with a power requirement of 1.6 MW.

At DASA, our team successfully drilled a pilot hole with a 4.9-meter (16-inch) diameter, expanding it to a final diameter of 5.1 meters at a depth of 70 meters. This achievement was made possible by the expertise and dedication of our engineers and operators.

The photograph above demonstrates the completed shaft head, while the accompanying video shows the Raise Borer machine in action.

Once operational, this shaft will support an airflow capacity of over 300 m³/s.