Kazakhstan has no intention of supplying uranium to Iran: KazAtomProm Head

Kazakhstan has no intention of supplying uranium to Iran, Newskaz.ru reports, citing KazAtomProm National Nuclear Company Head Vladimir Shkolnik as saying August 15. “We have never supplied and have no intention of supplying uranium to those countries that we have decided not to export uranium to”, he said at a press-conference when asked if the Company plans to export uranium to Iran. He emphasized that the international control system makes sure exported uranium is used for peaceful purposes only. “There is an international control system in place. Whenever we export uranium to some country, we first obtain assurances that this particular country won’t be using the materials for any other purposes than for fuelling nuclear power plants. The use of the materials is tracked by the system”, he said. In 2011 the Company produced a total of 19 450 tons of uranium, 9% up against 2010. Plans are there to increase the figure to 25 000 tons a year by 2015. Estimated net profit of KazAtomProm in 2011 made up $523.6 million. In 2009 the uranium production output grew from 8521 in 2008 to 14 020, enabling Kazakhstan to become the global leader in terms of production. 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.