Activity One - Location

As you are beginning to find out in Geography the location of our case studies is important. We are studying areas that most of us have never visited and in some cases may never have even heard about. Niger is in Africa but where?

• • 1. Describe where Niger is in Africa.

    2. Describe the relief and climate of Niger (Physical challenges)

    3. By looking at image one and reading the slideshow describe the human challenges that Niger may currently be facing (Human Challenges).

 Useful Resources

Activity Two - Describe

If the price of uranium was not high enough to be profitable, then countries would not want to extract or manipulate what other countries have got. Uranium is also used in nuclear energy and as country's look for ways to become resource secure uranium could become an increasingly popular resource to extract. 

1. Using the first link in the 'Useful Resources' box describe the economy of Niger (first three sections).

2. Using the graph below describe trend of the price of uranium (Economic Challenge). Don't forget to include data in your answer.

3. Using the second link in the 'Useful Resources' box, describe the changes to the mining sites along with the reasons for the move and closures (Economic Challenge and Dependence). 

Useful Resource

Wikipedia - Economy of Niger 

Orano - Mining Sites in Niger 

Activity Three - Opportunities

So far we have looked at the challenges that face companies and countries that wish to extract uranium within Niger, so why would anyone bother to invest? Read the following articles and bullet point the opportunities. Try and divide the opportunities into national and international benefits.

 Useful Resources

Activity Four - Conflict

Most extractions of raw materials often causes some form of conflict. This conflict is strongly linked to the environment as the extraction causes a change to the landscape and infrastructure has to be put in place to export the mineral. Settlements also develop alongside an extraction site as workers need somewhere to live and that involves an even greater amount of building. Divide a piece of paper into three and write notes on the conflict caused by the extraction of uranium. You could use a different colour for each factor.

 Useful Resources