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The National Atomic Company of Kazakhstan, Kazatomprom has announced that it was forced to make changes to its production plan for the current year. The main reason for the changes was a reduction in the supply of substances needed for uranium mining in Kazakhstan. In addition, it is reported that the heads of the nuclear company recognized the impossibility of implementing the approved plans to create the infrastructure necessary for new mines. The news was published by the official press service of the National Atomic Company. In 2022, the management of Kazatomprom announced the successful conclusion of a number of contracts and laid out a plan to increase uranium production over the next 2-3 years. In figures, it was set to produce 80% of the subsoil use contracts in 2023, and 90% in 2024. However, it became clear that these plans were not feasible due to concerns about increasing production. They were also rendered impossible due to changes in global imports, meaning Kazakhstan was unable to establish a supply chain of key materials and reagents for the plant, and alternative sources of necessary materials are yet to be found. Kazatomprom's press service also reported that a shortage of sulfuric acid is expected in 2024. The management of the National Atomic Company reports that it hopes to fulfill all its obligations to customers and will make every effort to do so. However, the 2025 development plan may also be revised if the supply problem persists. Changes to the current year's plan will be submitted by February 1st.
Kazakhstan’s National Atomic Company, Kazatomprom, the world's largest producer of uranium, says it has successfully completed the qualification process for the production of AFA 3G TM type A fuel assemblies at the Kazakh-Chinese Joint Venture, Ulba-FA LLP, which produces nuclear fuel for Chinese nuclear power plants. A document confirming the technical compliance of the product with all the mandatory quality requirements, norms and standards was provided by Framatome, the holder of technology. Work on the qualification for fuel assemblies’ production started in March 2023. As a result, the plant successfully received confirmation on the quality of its products. The qualification allows the plant to produce AFA 3G TM type A fuel assemblies, in addition to AFA 3G TM AA fuel assemblies, thus expanding the product line, Kazatomprom said. In 2024, Kazatomprom plans to commission industrial production of AFA 3GTM type A fuel assemblies and supply a batch of fuel assemblies of this type to nuclear power plants in China. The Ulba-FA plant has allowed Kazatomprom to diversify its production, expanding its product line and producing advanced, export-oriented uranium products with a high added value. With a production capacity of 200 tons of uranium in the form of fuel assemblies per year, the Ulba-FA plant has a guaranteed sales market for the next 20 years, Kazatomprom said. The launch of this innovative production has allowed Kazakhstan to enter the limited circle of countries which produce and supply nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants.
DUSHANBE (TCA) — On October 22, the Charge d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the donation of radiation detection equipment to the Dushanbe International Airport. This equipment was donated by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence (NSDD) in partnership with the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Agency of Tajikistan. Continue reading
NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — The capital of Kazakhstan on August 29 hosted the Nazarbayev Prize for a World Without Nuclear Weapons and Global Security award ceremony. The Prize laureates were Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Preparatory Commission, and former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukiya Amano, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. Continue reading
NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) on August 28 co-organized an international Seminar on Fostering Cooperation Among Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZ) with participation of representatives of all Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones, experts from relevant international and regional organizations as well as a number of observer-states, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. Continue reading
NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — The Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan on May 3 organized at the UN Headquarters the Nuclear Discussion Forum, this time devoted to the interaction of nuclear-weapon-free zones and the application of their practical experience to create new zones in the future. The main strategic goal of the initiative is to expand the number of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the planet towards achieving a world free of nuclear weapons. This becomes especially relevant in the context of the destruction of the current nuclear deterrence architecture and the growing tendency for a new nuclear arms race in the world, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. Continue reading
