Russia and Kazakhstan add to cooperation
20 March 2007
[Nuclear.Ru, RIA Novosti, 19 March] Following talks centred on energy cooperation in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev said the two countries would start the joint exploration of uranium deposits in Kazakhstan, as well as the joint enrichment and production of nuclear fuel. He said any other country wishing to develop its peaceful nuclear industry would be welcome to use the fuel. Kazakhstan confirmed its intention to participate in Russia's non-proliferation initiative to create international uranium enrichment centres. Nazarbaev said, "I think this will be a new landmark in our cooperation." He said that he had invited Putin to visit Kazakhstan this summer to discuss how to implement the agreements. Russia and Kazakhstan (through Kazatomprom) signed three 50:50 nuclear joint venture agreements in July 2006 totalling $10 billion for new nuclear reactors, uranium production and enrichment. In October 2006, Russia and Kazakhstan opened their first joint venture to enrich uranium in Angarsk, Siberia. The Russian-Kazakh joint venture Zarechnoye uranium mine in southern Kazakhstan was opened in December 2006.
Further information
WNA's Nuclear Power in Russia information paper
WNA's Uranium and Nuclear Power in Kazakhstan information paper
WNN: Russian-Kazakh uranium joint venture starts