KazAtomProm Head on speculations over Kazakhstan allegedly serving Russia’s uranium interests

Russia is being positioned in the media as an enemy [against the backdrop of allegedly impaired Kazakhstan’s uranium interests], Interfax-Kazakhstan reports, citing KazAtomProm National Nuclear Company Head Vladimir Shkolnik as saying August 15. “There are speculations over Kazakhstan supposedly selling out to Russia or serving Russia’s interests. Russia is being positioned as an enemy”, Mr. Shkolnik said at a press-conference August 15 in Astana. That was his answer to a question on what he thinks of speculations that the nuclear power industry has been working to serve Russia’s interests since he was appointed Head of the Kazakhstan National Nuclear Company KazAtomProm. “With all the responsibility, I can assure you that Kazakhstan and Russia are both full-fledged partners. Everything we do is targeted at maintaining parity with Russia within joint agreements, though Russia’s nuclear industry exceeds that of Kazakhstan in terms of scale”, he emphasized. 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. 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.