Kazatomprom diverted most uranium exports to bypass Russia in 2023

ALMATY. Feb 5 (Interfax) - More than 60% of all uranium shipped from Kazakhstan to Western countries was delivered in 2023 using the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), the Kazakh president's the press service said.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with Meirzhan Yussupov, CEO of national atomic company Kazatomprom, on Monday. The president was informed about the company's performance in 2023, as well as its short- and mid-term objectives and plans, according to the statement.

"Transportation of uranium products along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route increased significantly in 2023. As much as 64% of all uranium from Kazakhstan to Western countries was transported via this corridor," the statement says.

Kazatomprom earlier posted a 1% decrease in uranium production in 2023 to 21,112 tonnes compared with the previous year.

Kazatomprom is one of the largest producers of uranium in the world. The company also processes rare metals, produces and sells beryllium and tantalum products. Kazatomprom is under the management of Sovereign Wealth Fund Samruk-Kazyna JSC.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is an international transport corridor that runs through China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and further to Turkey and European countries. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is part of the corridor.