Kazakhstan to produce 20 000 tons of uranium in 2012

According to KazAtomProm’s estimates, Kazakhstan will produce 20 000 tons of uranium in 2012, KazTag reports. In 2011 Kazakhstan plans to extract 19 600 tons of uranium, with the output to be increased if required. “Kazakhstan is flexible in terms of production capacities. Now we take into account market forecasts”, said Serik Kozhakhmetov, Director General of the High-Tech Institute, a subsidiary of KazAtomProm. Mr. Kozhakhmetov belives Kazakhstan is the only country able to boost uranium production output by 20-30% within a short time. In February 2011 President Nazarbayev announced that in future Kazakhstan would be able to supply up to 40% of uranium imported to China. Early this year KazAtomProm Chairman Vladimir Shkolnik briefed that the overall uranium production in 2010 made up 17803 tons. And KazAtomProm sold 9000 tons of uranium oxide concentrate, 33% up against 2009. State-owned national atomic company Kazatomprom is Kazakhstan’s sole organisation for uranium mining; reprocessing and export & import operations.