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| KAZAKHSTAN’S URANIUM PRODUCTION UP 9% IN Q2 2012 |
Astana, 18th July: Kazakhstan is the world’s biggest uranium producer - with second-quarter output of the metal up by 9% from the previous three months to 5,040 metric tons, announced state-owned KazAtomProm today.
KazAtomProm share of production totalled 2,896 tons - also a gain of 9% from the first quarter, the company states.
ULBA Metallurgical Plant, a uranium pellet-producing unit of KazAtomProm, reported a 23% slump in beryllium output during the period, while more than doubling tantalum volumes.
According to KazAtomProm’s President, Vladimir Shkolnik, the company produced a total of 19,450 tons of uranium in 2011 - 9% up against 2010. Plans exist to increase the figure to 25,000 tons a year by 2015. Estimated net profit of KazAtomProm hit $523.6 million in 2011.
KazAtomProm is Kazakhstan's principle exporter of uranium and its compounds, rare metals, nuclear fuel for nuclear power stations, special equipment, technologies and dual-usage materials.
In 2006 Kazakhstan produced 5,279 tonnes of uranium, of which 3,010 tonnes were produced by KazAtomProm. KazAtomProm represents Kazakhstan in joint ventures with Russian Tekhsnabexport, French Areva and Canadian Cameco. through its subsidiaries, KazAtomProm engages in geological exploration; Uranium, Tantalum, and Niobium production; and power generation operations. It produces triuranium octoxide, fuel pellets, Uranium dioxide powders, and natural Uranium concentrate; and Beryllium metal ingots, Beryllium powder, Copper Beryllium Master Alloys, Aluminium Beryllium Master Alloys, Nickel Beryllium Master Alloys, and Beryllia based Ceramics, as well as processes Uranium - containing scraps, remains, and off-spec industrial products. The company also produces Tantalum Ingots, Tantalum Chips, Tantalum Mill Products, Rods, Wires, Powder, Capacitor Materials, Plates and Yttrium refined Tantalum; and Niobium pentoxide, Niobium Ingots, Niobium Chips, Niobium Mill products, Niobium Rods, Plates wires and Niobium powder. In addition, it engages in the generation of electric and thermal power, and water; and provision of training in Uranium mining. The company is also involved in reactor decommissioning, Hydrofluoric acid production and research and development works.
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| Author(s) : Greg Delaney |
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| Date : |
18/07/2012 |
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