Kazakhstan plans to intensify uranium exploration to create strategic reserve

ASTANA. April 17 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan plans to intensify uranium exploration and introduce new methods of extraction to ensure a strategic reserve, according to the strategy to develop the country's nuclear industry published in the legislation database on Friday.

"To meet the domestic demand for uranium in the long-term perspective with a guarantee, and also to strengthen export positions, the following priority actions will be taken: exploration work on at least two new prospective deposits a year aimed at finding earlier unexplored uranium deposits with a high geological potential; the development of geological exploration work on the already explored deposits to specify the resources, extraction technologies and preparations for launching operations," the strategy to develop the nuclear industry said.

The strategy was approved by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

"The formation and approval of conceptual approaches to the creation of a strategic uranium reserve to provide resources to future nuclear power plants" is also envisaged.

The document talks about "ensuring stable supply to uranium-extracting enterprises with sulphuric acid, a key agent for the alkaline in-situ leaching technology."

The plans include the development of new alternative methods of extraction and processing of uranium, as well as the prospect of reaching out to foreign nuclear industry markets.

Besides, the document envisages the loading of future uranium processing facilities (conversion, enrichment, fabrication) by supplying uranium from extracting enterprises regardless of the shares in joint ventures.

According to the document, uranium is extracted in Kazakhstan by 14 enterprises located in the Kyzyl-Orda, Turkestan, Northern Kazakhstan and Akmola regions, of which 12 are joint ventures of Kazatomprom with foreign partners from China, Russia, France, Canada, and Japan.

Kazakhstan has the world's second largest confirmed explored uranium resources - some one million tonnes as of early 2025, which is some 14% of the global resources, the document said.