Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 24 / Trend E. Kosolapova/
The solar panel plant implemented in cooperation with French consortium under French Atomic Energy Commission is the major project of Kazakh National Atomic Company Kazatomprom for 2012, Kazatomprom spokesman Mrs. Kristina Podshivalova told Trend over phone on Friday.
Podshivalova said that the company will spent the majority of its capital expenditures - roughly 34 billion tenge ($230 million) - on this project.
Besides solar panel plant in Astana, the solar project includes the creation of enterprises complex in the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk, which will provide the plant with raw material, Podshivalova said. The plant construction is planned to complete in Dec. 2012.
Kazatomprom plans to increase capital expenditures from 30 billion tenge ($203 million) in 2011 to 80 billion tenge ($541 million) in 2012, the company's head Vladimir Shkolnik said on Feb. 24.
Moreover, Kazatomprom plans to develop new uranium deposits in 2012, Podshivalova said. However, the company does not divulge additional information on these plans.
The company also actively implements exploration operations. As Kazatomprom head Vladimir Shkolnik earlier said, Kazatomprom will spend 3 billion tenge (over $20 million) for exploration in 2012-2015.
Moreover, Kazatomprom plans to spend roughly 3 billion tenge ($20 million) on research and development work in 2011, Podshivalova said.
Kazatomprom is Kazakh national operator for import and export of uranium, rare metals, nuclear fuel for power plants, special equipment and dual-purpose materials. A total of 100 percent of the Company's stock is held by the Government under the National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna. Kazatomprom is the world's leading uranium producer.
Kazakhstan produced 19,450 tons of uranium or 35 percent of world production in 2011.