Kazakhstan's Uranium Industry

[Philip Hypes <phypes@lanl.gov>]

Thought this might interest someone out there in RADSAFE land:

KAZAKHSTAN:

WESTERN CAPITAL TO TAKE OVER KAZAKHSTAN'S URANIUM INDUSTRY. The government
of Kazakhstan has decided to sell to Western companies a controlling stake
in Kazakh Atomic Industry, the largest uranium producer and exporter in
Central Asia and one of the largest in the former Soviet Union. The company
consists of three uranium mines, an enrichment plant (the flagship Ulba
metallurgical complex) and a prospecting enterprise. Negotiations toward a
takeover are well advanced between the Astana government and two of the
world's leading uranium producers: Cogema of France and Cameco of Canada and
the United States. Kazakhstan's move is consistent with its policy of
opening up its vast metallic ore deposits to Western rather than Russian
firms.
	In announcing this breakthrough, Kazakh Atomic Industry Chairman Muhtar
Yakishev made clear that the strategic investors are expected to come up
with a program to modernize Kazakh Atomic Industry and to secure and
diversify its export outlets. The latter issue is especially topical in
light of the anti-dumping proceedings currently underway in the United
States against the company (Habar, June 10, 14-15). [Jamestown foundation
6/17]


___________________________________________________________
Philip Hypes
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Safeguards Science and Technology Group (NIS 5)
(505) 667-1556  phypes@lanl.gov

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