Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Aug.13 /Trend D.Azizov/
Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine (NMMC) and the American NUKEM Inc can sign a new agreement to supply uranium, the US-Uzbek Chamber of Commerce (UUCC) said on Monday.
According UUCC, the agreement will be signed during the annual US-Uzbek business forum, which will be held in Tashkent at the end of this week.
As previously reported, the U.S. NUKEM Inc had the exclusive right to supply Uzbek uranium to the world market since 1992. In 2005 this agreement was extended until 2013.
The ten-year contract for the purchase of uranium for the regular municipal services in Japan was signed between the Japanese company Itochu and NMSC During the official visit of President of Uzbekistan to Tokyo in February 2011.
In this regard, the Uzbek government amended the government with the American company that allow Uzbekistan to sell more uranium directly to the end-users.
According to NUKEM, the company sold more than 100 million pounds of Uzbek uranium (more than 45.4 thousand tons) to foreign consumers from 12 countries.
Uzbekistan is in the top ten countries in the world both by reserves of uranium by its production.
The State Committee of Geology noted that proven and estimated reserves of uranium amounted to 185.8 thousand tons, 138.8 thousand tons of which - the uranium deposits of sandstone-type, 47 000 tons - black shale.
The country is not a consumer of the uranium product and all uranium produced is exported.
NMSC has a monopoly on the production, refining and export of uranium in Uzbekistan. The structure of the uranium production plant consists of a hydrometallurgical plant number 1 (HMP-1) in Navoi, three mining companies, six underground mine workings.