FACTBOX-Uranium ventures in Kazakhstan

Kazakh uranium output growth is likely to moderate due to technological and economic considerations as it is set to become the world's largest producer this year.

 

 

Below are facts about Kazakhstan's nuclear industry and a list of some key Kazakh uranium joint ventures.

 

KAZAKHSTAN AS A MAJOR PLAYER

 

Kazakhstan, with around one-fifth of world uranium reserves, has no nuclear power plants or nuclear fuel facilities.

 

It produced 8,521 tonnes of uranium in 2008, up from 6,637 tonnes in 2007. This year, it plans to produce 13,800 tonnes, increasing output to 15,000 tonnes in 2010.

 

Kazakhstan has seen a rush of interest from nations including Canada, Japan, China and South Korea hoping to mine its reserves.

 

However, the industry was shaken in May when Kazatomprom head Mukhtar Dzhakishev was arrested and accused of illegally selling deposits to foreign companies.

 

KARATAU

 

Russian state-owned nuclear giant Rosatom has secured a 17 percent stake in Canadian rival Uranium One in June in exchange for a 50 percent stake in the Karatau uranium mine

 

The mine is expected to increase Uranium One's 2010 output by about 35 percent.

 

KYZYLKUM

 

Kyzylkum operates Khorasan-1, Kazakhstan's largest uranium mine with reserves of more than 80,000 tonnes. Canada's Uranium One owns 30 percent in its operating company Kyzylkum.

 

A consortium of Japanese firms including Toshiba Corporation , TEPCO, Chubu Electric, Tohoku Electric, Kyushu Electric and Marubeni Corporation owns a 40 percent stake.

 

The rest belongs to Kazatomprom.

 

BAIKEN-U

 

The venture operates Khorasan-2, a deposit estimated to yield 2,000 tonnes of uranium annually for 40 years. The same Japanese consortium owns an undisclosed stake in the company.

 

BETPAK DALA

 

The venture, in which Uranium One owns 70 percent, operates two deposits, Akdala and South Inkai. Uranium One estimates its share of proven and probable reserves in Akdala at 6,700 tonnes. Its share of inferred reserves in South Inkai is 16,720 tonnes.

 

APPAK

 

The company operates the Western Mynkuduk deposit. Japan's Sumitomo Corporation owns 20 percent in Appak while Kansai Electric Power has a 15 percent stake.

 

Kazatomptom expects Appak to produce 1,000 tonnes of uranium annually for 22 years from 2010.

 

KATCO

 

France's Areva has a 51 percent stake in the venture which operates the Moinkum deposit. Kazatomprom has not provided any information on its reserves but said it planned to boost annual output to 4,000 tonnes a year.

 

INKAI

 

Canada's Cameco owns 60 percent in the venture that operates the Inkai Deposit (except for the part run by Betpak Dala). Total reserves are estimated at about 240,000 tonnes.

 

SEMIZBAI-U

 

The venture operates the Semizbai deposit which started production in July and expects to extract 500 tonnes of uranium a year. China's Beijing Sino-Kaz Uranium Resources Investment Company Limited owns 49 percent in Semizbai-U.

 

China plans to import a total of 24,200 tonnes of Kazakh uranium between 2008 and 2012.

 

Reuters