Kazakhstan to decide on low-enriched uranium bank next year - official
By Aynur Jafarova
Kazakhstan can take a decision on deployment of a low-enriched uranium bank next year, Baku-based Trend news agency quoted Timur Jantikin, the chairman of the Atomic Energy Committee of Kazakhstan's Industry and New Technologies Ministry, as saying on September 27.
"There is no such a decision (on deployment of a nuclear fuel bank in Kazakhstan) yet, because at a number of issues on the safe functioning of the bank is being developed out with the IAEA," Jantikin said. "We have got about 12 technical missions of the IAEA. These include both regulatory framework and a complete set of laws. This entire package will be well studied, because there are too many aspects."
The agreement was planned to be signed in October 2013, but later it was decided to hold another round of negotiation, he said.
"The decision will be made after all comments of international expert groups are met," he stressed. "This will not be in autumn 2013, as there are a number of questions on deployment. Thus, the question arises about the safety of the facilities that were built in the 1940s."
Kazakhstan has adjusted the whole system to international standards, Jantikin stressed.
"Based on optimistic forecasts, we assume that next year negotiations on the agreement will be completed. In addition, we have to develop procedures to modernize our safety regulation system, and to finalize technical implementation of security system of Ulba plant, where the fuel bank will be located", Jantikin said.
He also offered to call it a "low-enriched uranium bank", instead of "nuclear fuel bank".
Earlier Kazakhstan presented the initiative to deploy the nuclear fuel bank on its territory.
Kazakhstan holds the second largest uranium reserves in the world. Kazatomprom said earlier that around 5,590 tons of uranium was produced in Kazakhstan in the second quarter of 2013, which is by 9 percent over the same period of 2012.
Kazatomprom National Atomic Company is the Kazakh national operator for the import and export of uranium and its compounds, rare metals, nuclear fuel for power plants, special equipment, technologies and dual-use materials.
The company's main activities include geological exploration, uranium production, output of nuclear fuel cycle products, construction of reactors and nuclear power plants, non-ferrous metallurgy and production of construction materials, power industry, science, social welfare and personnel training.