Uzbekistan is exploring the potential to engage China Nuclear Uranium Co., as reported by Navoiyuran's press service, for the development of black shale uranium mines. Rustam Ergashev, head of the investment projects department at Navoiyuran, highlights the growing significance of atomic energy, which currently accounts for 11% of the world's demand for electric energy.
"This figure is 70% in France, 50% in Hungary, and 20% in the USA," Ergashev notes. In response to this trend, nations like China, India, and countries in the Middle East, Africa, and South America are expanding their nuclear power programs.
For Navoiyuran, a company with products entirely dedicated to export, this presents new opportunities for cooperation in the nuclear raw materials market. The visit of a delegation from China Nuclear Uranium Co (CNUC), a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), signifies a significant step towards enhancing collaboration in this field.
During the visit, led by Yang Runsheng, the chief engineer of the company's institute, experts from China Nuclear Uranium Co., explored black shale uranium mining fields in Uzbekistan. They visited the "Ma'danli" and "Koscheka" fields, examining mining operations and studying technological samples to develop extraction techniques for uranium and rare elements from the ore composition.
The meeting between Chinese experts and the General Director of Navoiyuran, J. Fayzullaev, focused on discussing the creation of technologies for black shale uranium mining and exploring prospects for future cooperation. The exchange of expertise and collaboration between Uzbekistan and China holds promise for advancing the nuclear energy sector in both countries.
In July 2023, Shavkat Mirziyoyev endorsed initiatives to boost uranium mining and processing within Uzbekistan. The President directed for a doubling of uranium production and processing, setting a target to increase output from 3,526 tons in 2021 to 7,100 tons by 2030.
In November 2023, Navoiyuran, has entered a strategic cooperation memorandum with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) in the uranium sector. This agreement was formalized during the inaugural international forum on natural uranium industry development in Beijing, where a discussion took place with CNNC Vice President Shen Yanfeng.
Since 2016, Uzbekistan has consistently held the position of the fifth-largest uranium producer worldwide. In 2022, the country extracted 3,300 tons of uranium, representing 6.4% of the global uranium production. Uzbekistan boasts uranium reserves exceeding 100,000 tons, ranking it as the 10th largest holder of uranium reserves globally.
The Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine (NMMC), Uzbekistan's sole natural uranium mining company, is renowned as a global leader in the industry. NMMC predominantly exports its uranium products, constituting 99.5% of its export portfolio. Major trade partners include AREVA NC (France), Converdyn (USA), Cameco (Canada), CNEIC (China), Itochu, Marubeni (Japan), and Nukem, Inc. (USA).
French President Macron's visit in November, 2023 to Uzbekistan signals France's strategic push for cooperation and stability in Central Asia and Europe. Seeking to counterbalance Russian and Chinese influence, France aims to diversify its energy sources by tapping into Central Asia's hydrocarbon reserves and uranium deposits. Additionally, France seeks to reduce dependence on China for critical minerals by exploring opportunities in Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries.
Comments (0)