Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Kazakhstan links the development of energy industry with the creation of a full-fledged nuclear power industry, President Nursultan Nazarbayev said on February 5 at a traditional meeting with the heads of foreign diplomatic missions accredited in the country.

"Our traditional energy is based on coal, oil and gas resources. In terms of nuclear power, Kazakhstan is the world's largest producer of uranium ore, carries out its partial enrichment and today the issue of the introduction of a full production cycle is being resolved. We plan to construct a nuclear power plant in the future," the president said.

Kazakhstan possesses 0.85 million tons of uranium reserves and ranks second in the world in terms of reserves. The country ranks first in the world in terms of uranium mining. As of 2012, uranium production in Kazakhstan amounted to 21,240 tons, or about 37 percent of world production. All the uranium produced in Kazakhstan is being exported, in particular to China and Europe.

The president went on to note that Kazakhstan will construct new refineries.

"All this is a good opportunity for the mutually beneficial cooperation with your countries," Nazarbayev said.

The president stressed the global scale event-the EXPO-2017 international exhibition in Astana is to follow.

"I invite all the interested countries to participate in the construction and arrangement of national pavilions and other facilities for the exhibition," the president said.