Kazakhstan to launch solar batteries production facility by 2012: KazAtomProm Chairman of Board Vladimir Shkolnik

By the end of 2012 Kazakhstan will have launched a plant to produce solar batteries, Profinance.kz quoted KazAtomProm National Nuclear Company Chairman of the Board Vladimir Shkolnik. According to him, part of the facilities will be located in Ust Kamenogorsk. “The plant will be capable of producing solar batteries totaling 50 megawatt to be further expanded to 100 megawatt. Everything from raw materials to solar power stations will be produced locally. At the same time we plan a research facility in Astana to facilitate renewable energy projects. The facility will also deal with conservation of energy”, Mr. Shkolnik said. According to him, the prime cost of the solar batteries will be lower than that in Europe. KazAtomProm is Kazakhstan's major exporter of uranium and its compounds, rare metals, nuclear fuel for nuclear power stations, special equipment, technologies and dual-usage materials. 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. In February 2011 President Nazarbayev announced that in future Kazakhstan would be able to supply up to 40% of uranium imported to China.