BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 30
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
In 2020, Uzbekistan supplied 3.9 million pounds ($5.4 million) of uranium equivalent to U3O8e to the United States, while in 2019 the figure amounted to 4.3 million pounds ($5.95 million), Trend reports referring to the US Energy Information Agency (EIA).
It is noted that despite the supply reduction, volumes are still high compared to previous years because there was a jump in Uzbek uranium supply in 2019.
In the same 2020, the price for Uzbek uranium supplies to the States fell significantly - the average price per pound was $35.9 (from 2016 through 2019 it cost at least $37.8).
It is noted that in 2018 the US discussed the issue of recognizing uranium supplies from other countries as a threat, but in the end, this did not happen. Then Uzbekistan was also among the main suppliers.
According to the information, Uzbekistan annually produces about 3,500 tons of uranium. Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine (NMMC) being the only natural uranium producer in Uzbekistan, is one of the largest uranium producers in the world. The share of uranium in the export structure of the plant accounts for 99.5 percent.
At the same time, the raw materials produced in Uzbekistan are not used and are fully exported abroad to such large processing enterprises in the world as AREVA NC (France), Converdyn (US), Cameco (Canada), CNEIC (China), etc.
It was reported that in 2020-2030, Uzbekistan plans to modernize production facilities, technical and technological re-equipment of equipment and transport, and expand the existing production facilities of the NMMC uranium complex.
In addition, the plant plans to expand the production complex at the Mailisay field. For the period from 2021 to 2030, it is planned to attract investment projects for the construction of mining and processing complexes with infrastructure at new uranium deposits and promising areas of the sandstone type.
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