BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 13
By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:
French Orano is currently finalizing the last administrative procedures prior to starting uranium production in Kazakhstan, the company told Trend.
Orano in cooperation with Kazatomprom operates the KATKO LLP Joint Venture in Kazakhstan.
The company said that in Kazakhstan, Orano is investing into development of a new mining site named as South Tortkuduk project, located on the territory of KATCO (JV between Orano and Kazatomprom), near the existing mines of Tortkuduk and Muyunkum.
“The new reserves will cover more than 10 years of KATCO’s production. At present, KATCO is finalizing the last administrative procedures prior to starting uranium production in that area in the near future,” the company added.
Having noted that at present, the key step for Orano in Kazakhstan is to successfully develop the South Tortkuduk project, the company added that in a longer term, its believes that the partnership between Orano and Kazatomprom which embodies a partnership between France and Kazakhstan shall continue.
“On one hand, Kazakhstan being the country with the largest mining operations, and Kazatomprom the largest operator in the uranium mining world. On the other hand, France playing a significant role in the natural uranium market and, therefore, a very significant customer for Kazatomprom. When we take that into account, there is a mutual benefit in perpetuating a partnership,” the company added.
KATKO LLP JV carries out the production of uranium mining by the method of in-situ leaching in the northern part of site No.1 (South) and at site No.2 (Tortkuduk) of the Moinkum deposit in the Turkestan region.
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