Reuters cited a company spokesman as saying that the company is currently negotiating with the government for the renewal of the mines’ licenses.
The two mines were closed in mid-December and will remain closed until mid-January 2014, the company spokesman confirming union information.
The 10-year licenses of the mines expired on 31 December.
"The directors of the mines have told us they have stopped operations because they operate in a legal vacuum," Salifou Chipkaou, deputy secretary general of the Synamin miners union, told Reuters.
An Areva spokesman said the mines close routinely about twice a year for periods between 15 days to a month for maintenance.
