The full production level at the South Tortkuduk deposit is estimated at around 4,000 tons of uranium per year in 2026 at the earliest, a source at Orano reports.
“Construction of the South Tortkuduk site is progressing according to schedule. The industrial process was initiated in March, with the first productions expected this summer. The exploitation of this new plot, whose uranium reserves are estimated at 46,000 tons, should ensure KATCO’s (the joint venture between French Orano Mining and Kazatomprom, Kazakhstan’s national nuclear company) production for around fifteen years. The full production level is estimated at around 4,000 tons of uranium per year in 2026 at the earliest,” the source said.
As the source noted, Orano Mining and Kazatomprom signed a memorandum of cooperation on November 29, 2022. Through this memorandum, Orano Mining and Kazatomprom state their intention to maintain and strengthen their cooperation in the uranium mining industry, building on their existing successful partnership.
“Among the joint cooperation initiatives, the memorandum provides for the implementation of a joint technical R&D roadmap, investigations on the ways to address carbon emissions from operations, and sets the groundwork for discussions on the long-term development of the partnership between the two companies,” the source said.
Speaking about expanding cooperation with Kazakhstan, the company noted that the visit of President Emmanuel Macron at the beginning of November 2023 confirmed France’s desire to give a new dimension to this partnership by developing new concrete projects in the nuclear and fuel cycle sectors. (Trend)