Kazakhstan heads over uranium production
By Aynur Karimova
Kazakhstan produced 22,829 metric tons of uranium in 2014, maintaining its leading position as the largest uranium producer in the world, Kazatomprom national company said on January 28.
In 2013, the country produced 22,500 metric tons of uranium.
A report by the company also noted that last year uranium mining in Kazakhstan went ahead based on the schedule. The share of Kazatomprom in the total uranium production in 2014 amounted to 13,156 metric tons.
In 2014, Kazatomprom continued exploration works to increase the resource base of uranium in Kazakhstan, and during the year, it drilled more than 986 exploration wells, the report noted.
As for the subsidiaries of the company, the Center of Uranium Enrichment JSC implemented shipment of finished products worth 4.9865 million separate work units, MAEK-Kazatomprom LLP generated 5.08 billion kWh of electricity, 3,296 million Gcal of heat energy, 1.235 billion cubic meters of water, including 11,400 cubic meters of drinking water for consumers of Aktau city and Mangistau region in 2014.
The volume of production of tantalum products amounted to 154,458 metric tons, niobium -72, 228 metric tons, and beryllium – 1,776,180 metric tons.
SARECO JV produced 240,4 metric tons of bulk concentrate of rare earth metals in 2014. The finished products were shipped to certain customers in Russia.
Astana Solar LLP produced 51,069 panels in 2014, which corresponds to 12,706 MW of energy.
Kazatomprom JSC is the national operator of Kazakhstan in charge of exporting uranium and uranium compounds, rare metals, nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants, special equipment, technologies and materials with dual purposes.
Its main activities are geological exploration, the extraction of uranium, the manufacturing of products involved in the nuclear fuel cycle and construction materials as well as power industry, science, social security and personnel training.
As the world's biggest uranium producer since 2009, Kazakhstan produced 22,500 metric tons of uranium in 2013. All the uranium produced in Kazakhstan is exported, particularly to China and Europe.
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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
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