Kazatomprom, French companies sign memoranda of cooperation in atomic industry

ALMATY. Dec 1 (Interfax) - The Kazatomprom National Atomic Company and French companies have signed memoranda of cooperation in the atomic industry in the course of an official visit of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to France, the Kazatomprom press service said on Thursday.

Kazatomprom CEO Yerzhan Mukanov and Orano Mining Senior Executive Vice President Nicolas Maes signed a memorandum of mutual understanding and cooperation in the uranium industry.

The sides pledged to maintain and strengthen cooperation in the uranium mining industry, to broaden the interaction in the implementation of future projects of mutual interest, and to map out further development of partnership between Orano Mining and Kazatomprom within the framework of long-term strategic relations between France and Kazakhstan.

"We have agreed to continue the development of our joint mining company, LLC KATCO, and to broaden mutually beneficial cooperation in order to implement future projects in the uranium industry. I have no doubt that further strengthening of the partnership, the mutual support and the exchange of practices will make our companies better and more effective," the press release quoted Mukanov as saying.

In addition, the Kazatomprom CEO and International Institute of Nuclear Energy Executive Director Karen Daifuku signed a memorandum of mutual understanding between the two entities.

The memorandum envisages interaction in the training and professional development of Kazatomprom scientific and production personnel, the training of Kazakh specialists, and the assistance in joint research programs in the atomic industry.