Kazakh-French JV produces 20,000 tons of uranium
By Aynur Jafarova
The Kazakh-French joint venture KATCO LLP has produced around 20,000 tons of uranium since launching industrial production in 2005, Kazatomprom said on December 5.
"This milestone was achieved on December 2, less than three years after the 10,000-ton-mark was reached in March 2011," Kazatomprom said.
"Thanks to the commitment of our teams, a new page in KATCO's short but brilliant history is written. KATCO has the potential and key assets to continue on the path of success and to continue to break other records," KATCO General Director Gerard Fries said.
Established in 1996, KATCO LLP became the largest uranium producing enterprise in Kazakhstan. In 2009, it became the world's largest uranium producing enterprise using the method of in situ recovery (ISR).
The company carries out work on the development and production of uranium at two uranium mines in South Kazakhstan province, using the highest standards for mining with regard to safety and environmental protection.
In 1999, KATCO obtained a mining and exploration permit for the vast Muyunkum deposit, for the South Muyunkum and Tortkuduk sites in southern Kazakhstan, located around 250 kilometers north of Shimkent.
Following a more than 3-year feasibility study with testing in an industrial pilot phase on the South Muyunkum site, the industrial development of both sites was launched in April 2004.
The first industrial mining began in late 2005.
KATCO LLP produced more than 3,600 tons of uranium in 2012 and plans to produce around 4,000 tons in 2013.
The company's founders are the AREVA Group (France)-51 percent and Kazatomprom National Atomic Company (Kazakhstan) 49 percent.
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 about 9 percent over the same period in 2012.
Kazatomprom 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.
AREVA supplies advanced technology solutions for power generation with less carbon. Its expertise and unwavering insistence on safety, security, transparency and ethics are setting the standard, and its responsible development is anchored in a process of continuous improvement.
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