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Updated May 2007
Nuclear Facilities
Mining and Milling
At the end of the 1950s, large deposits of uranium were discovered in north-central Kazakhstan and on the Mangyshlak Peninsula in the west. These discoveries led to the construction of the Tselinnyy Mining and Chemical Combine at Stepnogorsk and the Prikaspiyskiy Mining and Metallurgy Combine at Aktau. These two facilities, along with the Navoi Mining and Metallurgy Combine in Uzbekistan, were the core of the Soviet uranium production industry.[1] By the 1990s, uranium extraction had shifted from conventional and underground operations around Tselinnyy and Prikaspiyskiy to in-situ leaching (ISL) operations run by the Stepnoye, Tsentralnoye, and No. 6 Mining Directorates in southern Kazakhstan. Tselinnyy, now foreign-owned KazSabton, processes uranium slurry from these southern Kazakhstani ISL operations, though its own uranium mines have closed.[2] Prikaspiyskiy, now Kaskor, is no longer involved in uranium mining or milling. Astana is actively cooperating with Moscow in the Zarechnoye uranium mining venture, which produced its first metric ton of uranium in December 2006.[3]
Recently, Japan has shown an increased interest in Central Asia's uranium stocks, specifically Kazakhstan. Japan has a growing annual demand for nuclear fuel and competition with China, along with a desire to increase their nuclear power sector, has brought them to Kazakhstan. A deal has been struck that allows a number of Kazakhstani companies the right to deliver 2,000 metric tons of uranium to Japan annually. However, this only accounts for 25% of Japan's demand. Future negotiations to increase uranium transfers to Japan will take place later in 2007.[4]
Sources:
[1] Oleg Bukharin and William Potter, "Kazakhstan--A Nuclear Profile," Jane's Intelligence Review, April 1994, pp. 183-184.
[2] Paul Carroll, "The Reconstruction of the Uranium Industry in Kazakhstan," presentation at the Uranium Institute's Twenty Second Annual International Symposium 1997, Uranium Institute Website, http://www.uilondon.org/sym/1997/carroll.htm
[3] "Russian-Kazakh Company Produces First ton of Natural Uranium," ITAR-TASS, 6 December 2006.
[4] "Atomic alignment: Japan is intruding into Central Asian uranium markets,"www.rbc.ru, 26 April 2007.
Mining and Milling Organization
After Kazakhstan became independent in December 1991, all uranium exploration, production, processing, and marketing activities were put under the management of the Kazakhstan State Corporation for Atomic Power and Industry (KATEP). These activities were subsequently transferred to Kazatomprom in 1997.[1] Kazatomprom is the monopoly importer and exporter of uranium in Kazakhstan.[2] The state retains ownership over all mineral resources and requires that all producers have licenses.[3]
Table 1 below shows the organization of uranium mining and milling enterprises in Kazakhstan. Mining is conducted by three Kazakhstani mining directorates under the direction of Kazatomprom. Kazatomprom also owns shares in two uranium mining joint ventures: Katko, a joint venture with Cogema of France; and Inkai, a joint venture with Cameco of Canada. The uranium is processed and packaged at KazSabton and the Kara Balta Ore Mining Combine in Kyrgyzstan.[4] Kazatomprom oversees sales of uranium product to foreign customers, who include Nukem of Germany, Cameco of Canada, and Energy Resources of Australia (ERA).[5,6]The Ulba Metallurgy Plant uses uranium from the southern ISL operations to produce uranium fuel pellets, after the uranium is enriched at Russian facilities. Uranium concentrate and by-products of uranium mining are the principal sources of hard currency for Kazatomprom.[7]
Sources:
[1] Dmitriy Gurevich and Yuriy Tsalyuk, "Uranium of Kazakhstan," The Globe (Vremya PO), 28 April 2000, No. 34 (452).
[2] Interfax Russian News, 30 July 1999; in "Kazakhstan Forecasts 37% Growth in Uranium Production," Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
[3] Paul Carroll, "The Reconstruction of the Uranium Industry in Kazakhstan," presentation at the Uranium Institute's Twenty Second Annual International Symposium 1997, Uranium Institute Website, http://www.uilondon.org/sym/1997/carroll.htm.
[4] Interfax, 31 July, 2000; in "Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan to form uranium mining JV," FBIS Document CEP20000731000208.
[5] Andrei Ivanov, "Kazakhstan: Uranium Industry Comes out of the Doldrums," Global Information Network, 7 July 1996; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
[6] "Kazakhstan," Nuexco Review, 1994, p. 51.
[7] Oleg Bukharin and William Potter, "Kazakhstan--A Nuclear Profile," Jane's Intelligence Review, April 1994, p. 186.{Entered 8/8/2000 KB}
Future of Mining and Milling
Kazatomprom, one of the top 10 uranium producers in the world, intends to increase production through development of new deposits in the south of the country and through joint ventures with foreign companies.
Kazatomprom intends to invest in its operations and to seek new markets for its products. In January 2000, Kazatomprom President Mukhtar Dzhakishev announced that Kazatomprom would spend $50 million of its own capital as well as part of a $25 million loan received from Germany's Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale to increase uranium production.[4] Dzhakishev also announced pending sales deals with General Electric and South Korea and stated that Kazatomprom will sell all uranium that is extracted.[1,2]
In July 2000, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Russia agreed to form a three-way venture, in which uranium concentrate from the Zarechnoye deposit in Kazakhstan's Zhambyl Oblast is to be processed at Kara Balta. [3]
Sources:
[1] Interfax-Kazakhstan, 31 May 2000; in "Kazakhs Plans to Increase Uranium Extraction, Mainly Russian, America Markets," FBIS Document CEP20000601000301.
[2] "The USA is Interested in Kazakhstan's Uranium," The Globe (Vremya PO), No 21 (439), 21 March 2000, p. 2; based on materials from the Kazakh Service of Radio Liberty (Radio Azattyk), 18 March 2000.
[3] "Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan To Form Uranium Mining JV," Interfax, 31 July 2000. {Entered 4/5/01 KB}
Mining and Milling Facilities
Stepnoye Mining Directorate
LOCATION: Stepnoye, Suzak District, Shymkent Oblast
SUBORDINATION: Kazatomprom
BACKGROUND: Around 1970 the Soviet Union began to explore and develop ISL deposits in southern Kazakhstan. By 1990, ISL methods had displaced open-pit and underground mining as the predominant uranium production method in southern Kazakhstan. Stepnoye Mining Directorate entered into production in 1978 at the Mynkuduk and Uvanas deposits. Uranium is extracted using a sulfuric acid leachate.[2] During the Soviet era, material from Stepnoye and Tsentralnoye Mining Directorates was processed at the Kara Balta Ore Mining Combine in Kyrgyzstan. In 1993, Kazakhstan reduced the amount of material shipped to Kyrgyzstan and redirected most uranium ore shipments to its own facilities at the Tselinnyy Mining and Chemical Combine (now KazSabton) in Stepnogorsk.[3] In the 1990s, output from Stepnoye fell from from 800t in 1991 to less than 600t as a result of falling world prices for uranium and US anti-dumping policies.[4] In 2000, the Directorate reported a 40% increase in productivity due to new pay incentives introduced at the mines.[1] Under a long-term contract, Nukem of Germany buys most of the uranium obtained from Stepnoye mines.[4,5,6]
Sources:
[1] Kazakhstanskaya pravda, 15 July 2000; in "Kazakhstan Develops New Uranium Deposit in South," FBIS Document CEP20000725000198.
[2] Paul Carroll, "The Reconstruction of the Uranium Industry in Kazakhstan," presentation at the Uranium Institute's Twenty Second Annual International Symposium 1997, Uranium Institute Website, http://www.uilondon.org/sym/1997/carroll.htm.
[3] Oleg Bukharin and William Potter, "Kazakhstan--A Nuclear Profile," Jane's Intelligence Review, April 1994, p. 186.
[4] Andrei Ivanov, "Kazakhstan: Uranium Industry Come Out of the Doldrums," 7 July 1996; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
[5] "District Court Denies Both Nukem's Motion for Satisfaction of Judgment and the Petition of US Energy Corp and Crested Corp to Dissolve the Sheep Mountain Partnership," PR Newswire Association, 20 July 1999; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
[6] "Kazakhstan," Nuexco Review, 1994, p. 51.
ACTIVITIES: Stepnoye Mining Directorate mines deposits at Mynkuduk, Uvanas, Akdala and Zhalpak in Shymkent Oblast using the in-situ leaching (ISL) method.[1,2,3]
Sources:
[1] Heinrich Graul, "Uranium mining as seen in situ," The Uranium Institute, No. 6, pp. 17-18.
[2] Tatyana Shkolnik, "The Development of Uranium Reserves in the Republic of Kazakhstan," report provided to CISNP, August 1994, p. 2
[3] Carole A. Grey, "Up Front In The CIS," Nuclear Engineering International, May 1994, pp. 16-20.
[4] Paul Carroll, "The Reconstruction of the Uranium Industry in Kazakhstan," presentation at the Uranium Institute's Twenty Second Annual International Symposium 1997, Uranium Institute Website, http://www.uilondon.org/sym/1997/carroll.htm.{Updated 8/8/2000 KB}
Tsentralnoye Mining Directorate
LOCATION: Taukent, Suzak District, Shymkent Oblast
SUBORDINATION: Kazatomprom
BACKGROUND: Tsentralnoye Mining Directorate entered into production in 1982 at the Kanzhugan deposit. Uranium is extracted using a sulphuric acid leachate.[1] During the Soviet era, material from the Stepnoye and Tsentralnoye Mining Directorates was processed at Kara Balta Ore Mining Combine in Kyrgyzstan. In 1993, Kazakhstan reduced the amount of material shipped to Kyrgyzstan and redirected most uranium ore shipments to Tselinnyy Mining and Chemical Combine in Stepnogorsk.[2] In the 1990s, output from Tsentralnoye fell from from 1,200t in 1991 to less than 800t as a result of falling world prices for uranium and US anti-dumping policies. In 2000, the Directorate reported a 40% increase in productivity due to new pay incentives introduced at the mines.[3] Under a long-term contract, Nukem of Germany buys most of the uranium obtained from Tsentralnoye mines.[4,5,6]
Sources:
[1] Paul Carroll, "The Reconstruction of the Uranium Industry in Kazakhstan," presentation at the Uranium Institute's Twenty Second Annual International Symposium 1997, Uranium Institute Website, http://www.uilondon.org/sym/1997/carroll.htm.
[2] Oleg Bukharin and William Potter, "Kazakhstan--A Nuclear Profile," Jane's Intelligence Review, April 1994, p. 186.
[3] "Kazakhstan Develops New Uranium Deposit in South," Kazakhstanskaya pravda, 15 July 2000, in FBIS Document CEP20000725000198.
[4] Andrei Ivanov, "Kazakhstan: Uranium Industry Come Out of the Doldrums," 7 July 1996; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
[5] "District Court Denies Both Nukem's Motion for Satisfaction of Judgment and the Petition of US Energy Corp and Crested Corp to Dissolve the Sheep Mountain Partnership," PR Newswire Association, 20 July 1999; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
[6] "Kazakhstan," Nuexco Review, 1994, p. 51.
ACTIVITIES: Tsentralnoye Mining Directorate produces uranium at Kanzhugan and Kainor deposits in Shymkent Oblast using the in-situ leaching (ISL) method.[1,2,3]
Sources:
[1] Heinrich Graul, "Uranium mining as seen in situ," The Uranium Institute, No. 6, pp. 17-18.
[2] Tatyana Shkolnik, "The Development of Uranium Reserves in the Republic of Kazakhstan," report provided to CISNP, August 1994, p. 2.
[3] Carole A. Grey, "Up Front In The CIS," Nuclear Engineering International, May 1994, pp. 16-20.{Updated 8/8/2000 KB}
Mining Directorate No. 6
LOCATION: Chiili, Kzyl-Orda Oblast
SUBORDINATION: Kazatomprom
BACKGROUND: Mining Directorate No. 6 was established in 1981. During the Soviet era, material from the Directorate was processed at Vostokredmet's Combine No. 6 in Chkalovsk (near Khodjent), Tajikistan. Kazakhstan terminated shipment of uranium to Tajikistan in 1993 and redirected shipments of uranium ore to Tselinnyy Mining and Chemical Combine in Stepnogorsk.
[Oleg Bukharin and William Potter, "Kazakhstan--A Nuclear Profile," Jane's Intelligence Review, April 1994, p. 186.]{Entered 8/10/2000 KB}
ACTIVITIES: Mining Directorate No. 6 operates at the in-situ leaching (ISL) deposits at North and South Karamurun, Irkol, North and South Kharasan, and Zarechnoye. The Directorate has total reserves of 120,000t. A total of 1,300 people are employed by the Directorate. The uranium slurry produced at the company is transported to KazSabton in Stepnogorsk, some 800km north of Chiili, where it is turned into purified U3O8 powder with uranium content of over 85 percent. In 1996, production at Chiili was about 300t/year, at 50 percent of installed capacity.[1,2,3]
Sources:
[1] Heinrich Graul, "Uranium mining as seen in situ," The Uranium Institute, No. 6, pp. 17-18.
[2] Tatyana Shkolnik, "The Development of Uranium Reserves in the Republic of Kazakhstan," report provided to CISNP, August 1994, p. 2.
[3] Carole A. Grey, "Up Front In The CIS," Nuclear Engineering International, May 1994, pp. 16-20.{Updated 2/3/96 GB} {Cleared 3/28/97 AB} {Updated 8/8/2000 KB}
Joint Venture Inkai (Inkay)
LOCATION: Stepnoye, Shymkent Oblast
BACKGROUND: The three-way Joint Venture Inkai was created on 15 July 1995 between two Canadian companies, Uranerz and Cameco, and KATEP to exploit the Inkay (Inkai) and Mynkuduk deposits. The two Canadian companies agreed to invest a total of $Can 40 million ($29.4 million as of 15 August 1995).[1] Under the joint venture agreement, Uranerz agreed to take responsibility for mining operations and KATEP agreed to handle the export business, using Uranerz and Cameco as marketing agents.[2] The JV was built on a 1993 marketing/investment agreement between the three parties to redevelop Kazakhstani uranium facilities.[2,3] Cameco bought Uranerz and its shares in the joint venture in August 1998.[4] As of July 2000, ownership of the joint venture was as follows: 60% Cameco and 40% Kazatomprom.[5] Joint Venture Inkai is an independent agent handling Kazakhstani production and has exclusive rights only to that part of production that is not tied to existing contracts with Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) and Nukem, Inc.[6] In June 2000 Kazatomprom CEO Mukhtar Dzhakishev valued the joint venture at $500 million.[7]
Sources:
[1] "On to Kazakhstan," Nukem, October 1995, p. 18.
[2] "Canadian companies to finance uranium venture," Nuclear News, October 1995, p. 48.
[3] Paul Carroll, "The Reconstruction of the Uranium Industry in Kazakhstan," presentation at the Uranium Institute's Twenty Second Annual International Symposium 1997, Uranium Institute Website, http://www.uilondon.org/sym/1997/carroll.htm.
[4] "Cameco Completes Uranerz Acquisition," Business Wire, 11 August 1998; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
[5] "Cameco/Kazatomprom to Assess Potential of Kazakhstan Uranium Project," 21 July 2000, Cameco Website, http://www.cameco.com/investor/news_releases/index.html.
[6] "Interview: The President Speaks," Nukem, May 1994, pp. 14-15.
[7] "Joint uranium processing projects in Kazakhstan worth over $600 million," Interfax CIS Daily News Brief, Volume II, Issue 100 (122), 1 June 2000.
ACTIVITIES: Joint Venture Inkai is carrying out initial feasibility studies to assess how much material is actually recoverable from the deposits. On 21 July 2000, the joint venture signed a resource use agreement with the government of Kazakhstan, allowing the JV to proceed with construction of a $2 million test mine to assess the grade and capacity of the deposit. Production could possibly begin in 2004 with output eventually reaching 2.6 million pounds per year, according to Inkai officials.
["Cameco/Kazatomprom to Assess Potential of Kazakhstan Uranium Project," 21 July 2000, Cameco Website, http://www.cameco.com/investor/news_releases/index.html.]
Katko Joint Venture
LOCATION: Tsentralnoye, Shymkent Oblast; headquarters in Almaty
BACKGROUND: The Katko Joint Venture between Cogema and KATEP was created in August 1996 to develop the Moinkum ISL deposit near Tsentralnoye. Ownership is as follows: Cogema owns 45%, KATEP--29%, Volkovgeologiya--9%, Kazakhstani Main Mining Division--7%, other financial investors (mainly Swiss)--10%.[1,2] Under the agreement, Cogema will handle the marketing responsibilities.[1] The Katko Joint Venture is an independent agent handling Kazakhstani production and has exclusive rights only to that part of production that is not tied to existing contracts with Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) and Nukem, Inc.[3] Nominal production capacity at the Moinkum deposit is estimated as 700t/year. In June 2000 Kazatomprom CEO Mukhtar Dzhakishev valued the Katko JV at $100 million.[4]
Sources:
[1] Paul Carroll, "The Reconstruction of the Uranium Industry in Kazakhstan," presentation at the Uranium Institute's Twenty Second Annual International Symposium 1997, Uranium Institute Website, http://www.uilondon.org/sym/1997/carroll.htm.
[2] "Cogema, KATEP set up Joint Venture to Develop U Deposits in Kazakstan," Nuclear Fuel, 26 August 1996, p.8.
[3] "Interview: The President Speaks," Interview with KATEP President Victor Yazikov, Nukem, May 1994, pp. 14-15.
[4] "Joint uranium processing projects in Kazakhstan worth over $600 million," Interfax CIS Daily News Brief, Volume II, Issue 100 (122), 1 June 2000.
ACTIVITIES: Cogema is planning to build an acid ISL pilot plant at Moinkum in 2000. The Katko Joint Venture plans to produce between 9t and 22.7t of U3O8 in 2002.[2]
Sources:
[1] Georges Capus and Daniel Comte, "Uranium in 1999--The End of the Roller Coaster Ride?" Uranium Institute Twenty Fourth Annual International Symposium 1999, Uranium Institute Website, http://www.uilondon.org/sym/99idx.htm.
[2] "Kazakhstan is planning to increase uranium production by 16% from 1999 to 2000," Uranium Institute News Briefing 00.48, 22-28 November 2000, The Uranium Institute Web Site, http://www.uilondon.org/nb/nb00/nb0048.htm. {Entered 8/8/2000 KB}
KazSabton
LOCATION: Stepnogorsk (Stepnyak)
SUBORDINATION: Wholly-owned by Sabton Limited, a subsidiary of Israeli-owned Africa Israel Investment Ltd.
["Israeli Company Invests in Kazakh Uranium Plant," Nuclear Engineering International, 31 March 2000; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.]{Entered 8/10/2000 KB}
BACKGROUND:
KazSabton was previously known as the Tselinnyy Mining and Chemical Combine. At the end of the 1950s, the Soviet Union launched geological explorations to find uranium for its nuclear program. Construction of the Tselinnyy Mining and Chemical Combine, known as "Mailbox 5175," was begun in May 1956 following the discovery of large uranium, uranium-molybdenum, and uranium phosphate ore deposits in northern Kazakhstan. In 1960, authorities chose the present-day site of Stepnogorsk as the Combine's headquarters. Small towns, such as Zavodskoy, Zhangiztobe, Zaozernyy, and Krasnogorsk were founded near Stepnogorsk to house the Combine's Hydro-Metallurgical Plant, Repair Plant, Mining Equipment Plant, and other necessary components.[1] During the Soviet era, the Tselinnyy Mining and Chemical Combine, along with the Navoi Mining and Metallurgy Combine in Uzbekistan and the Prikaspiyskiy Mining and Metallurgical Combine, was at the core of the USSR's uranium production industry.[2] Following Kazakhstani independence, the government of Kazakhstan continued to operate the Tselinnyy Combine, selling U3O8 to Energy Resources of Australia (ERA), Cameco, and Uranerz Exploration & Mining (UEM).[3] Output from the Combine gradually declined during the 1990s for three reasons: low-grade ore from Tselinnyy's underground mines, the cost of transporting ore to the Combine, and the lack of reinvestment.[4] In 1996, the Kazakhstani government contracted World Wide Minerals Ltd. of Canada to manage the facility. By spring 1997, World Wide Minerals ceased production at the facility because the Kazakhstani government would not issue export licenses for the uranium. In addition, it did not receive any uranium from the facility's southern mine production, which was necessary to operate the facility efficiently.[5] The Kazakhstani State Property Committee cancelled the contract with World Wide Minerals and transferred the Tselinnyy Combine to state-owned Kazatomprom on 1 August 1997. In 1999, the government of Kazakhstan put the then-bankrupt Combine up for sale. Attempts to sell the Combine in January and February 1999 failed due to lack of interested buyers.[6] On 16 April 1999 Sabton Limited, a Cyprus-registered subsidiary of the Israeli-owned Africa Israel Investment Ltd., bought the Combine for 36 million tenge ($317,000 as of 16 April 1999). KazSabton was registered in May 1999. Sabton, which outbid Kazatomprom for the Tselinnyy combine, agreed to pay 320 million tenge ($2.8 million as of 16 April 1999) in back wages and debts, compensate Kazatomprom for its expenses on financing the plant prior to the sale, and present a long-term investment plan.[6] As of January 2000, Sabton had cleared 80 million tenge ($702,000 as of 16 April 2000) of this amount. In March 2000, Sabton announced plans to invest $100 million from 2000-2005 in KazSabton to develop new products, reconstruct the Hydro-Metallurgical Plant, repair the heat and power station, and develop new deposits in northern Kazakhstan.[7]
Sources:
[1] Vitaliy Ponomarev, "The Nuclear Industry in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan," Central Asia Monitor, No. 2, 1993, pp. 30-32.
[2] Oleg Bukharin and William Potter, "Kazakhstan--A Nuclear Profile," Jane's Intelligence Review, April 1994, p. 186.
[3] "In Steppe with Kazakhstan," Nukem, 1995, p. 8.
[4] Paul Carroll, "The Reconstruction of the Uranium Industry in Kazakhstan," presentation at the Uranium Institute's Twenty Second Annual International Symposium 1997, Uranium Institute Website, http://www.uilondon.org/sym/1997/carroll.htm.
[5] "Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Sign Mining/Processing Pact," FreshFUEL, no. 426, 15 September 1997, pp. 1-2. {Updated 9/4/98 djw}
[6] "Kazakhstan Sells One of Largest Uranium Plants in CIS," Interfax, 16 April 1999.{entered 5/17/99 FW}
[7] "Israeli Company Invests in Kazakh Uranium Plant," Nuclear Engineering International, 31 March 2000; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com. {Updated 8/10/2000 KB}
ACTIVITIES: KazSabton produces pollymetallic ores, uranium oxides, oleum, battery acid, heat and electricity. Yellowcake is exported by Kazatomprom.[1] As of April 2000, ore extraction at deposits within KazSabton's territory had stopped because of the comparatively poor quality of the ore and high production costs compared to uranium production in southern Kazakhstan.[2]
Sources:
[1] "Israeli Company Invests in Kazakh Uranium Plant," Nuclear Engineering International, 31 March 2000; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
[2] Dmitriy Gurevich and Yuriy Tsalyuk, "Uranium of Kazakhstan," The Globe (Vremya PO), 28 April 2000, No. 34 (452). {Updated 8/8/2000 KB}
COMMENTS: Maximum output of 3,000 tons of uranium per year. In 1993 the facility produced 800 tons of uranium.[1] The present disparity between capacity and real production is part of an early 1990s trend, attributable to the high cost of uranium mining.[2] In 1996, the plant was operating at about 20 percent of capacity.[3]
Sources:
[1] "Fuel Cycle Facilities: Uranium Ore Processing," Nuclear Engineering International: World Nuclear Industry Handbook 1995.
[2] "Kazakhstan," Nuexco Review, 1994, p. 51.
[3] Aleksandr Kotseruba, "Uranium -- the Republic's Property?" Karavan, 30 July 1996, p. 2; in "Kazakhstan: Radioactive Waste Disposal Problem Viewed," FBIS-SOV-96-164-S.
Kaskor Joint Stock Company
LOCATION: Aktau (formerly Shevchenko)
STRUCTURE: Mining Complex: Open pit mining of uranium phosphate ore deposits at Melovoye and Tomyak. Operations were suspended in February 1994.[1,2]
Chemical Complex: A chemical-hydrometallurgical plant produced uranium concentrate in the form of uranium oxide (U3O8), scandium oxide, scandium fluoride, and other rare earth elements for export.[3] The complex also included sulfuric acid and nitric fertilizer production facilities.[2] The fertilizer plant was transferred to MAEK in 1994.[4]
Machine Building Complex (Remzavod): Manufacturing of equipment for the oil, mining, chemical and agricultural industries.
Research Laboratory
Dikfa Joint Stock Company: Toothpaste manufacturer.[5]
Sources:
[1] "In Steppe with Kazakhstan," Nukem, 1995, p. 12.
[2] Vitaliy Ponomarev, "The Nuclear Industry in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan," Central Asia Monitor, No. 2, 1993, p. 33.
[3] "National Joint-Stock Company of Atomic Energy and Industry 'KATEP,'" Marketing brochure, 1994, p. 6.
[4] Olga Kovalenko, "Peretyagivaniyem kanata, a ne resheniyem ekonomicheskikh problem zanimayutsya v Aktau," Kazakhstanskaya pravda, No. 217 (22174), 4 October 1996, p. 1.
[5] BISNIS Trip Report to Aktau, 18-19 October 1999, BISNIS Website, http://www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/country/991029aktau.htm.]
BACKGROUND: Kaskor was formerly known as the Prikaspiyskiy Mining and Metallurgy Combine (MMC). The Prikaspiyskiy MMC, a large-scale ore mining and processing enterprise, was established in 1959 to exploit uranium-phosphate deposits on the Mangyshlak Peninsula. The discovery of these deposits led to the founding of the city of Aktau and the construction of the Mangyshlak Atomic Energy Combine (MAEK) to supply desalinated water and electricity to the Prikaspiyskiy MMC.[1,2] By the end of the 1960s, the Prikaspiyskiy MMC was one of the major producers of uranium in Kazakhstan and, along with the Navoi Mining and Metallurgy Combine in Uzbekistan and the Tselinnyy Mining and Chemical Combine, was at the core of the Soviet uranium production industry. In 1994, total uranium resources of mines run by Kaskor were estimated at 64,400 metric tons (t) of uranium.[3] The complex is reported to have had an annual capacity in excess of three million pounds of U3O8.[4] After Kazakhstani independence, the Combine was privatized and became a state holding company under the name Kaskor, with 51 percent of its stock held by the government.[3] Uranium production declined in the early 1990s, from 2.6 million pounds of U3O8 in 1990 to 832,000 pounds in 1993.[5] Mining and milling operations were suspended as of February 1994. A Kazakhstani official explained that open-pit extraction, an expensive technique, had made Kaskor uranium prices non-competitive on the market.[3] The Kaskor Chemical Complex, a producer of fertilizer from the Soviet era, was temporarily placed under the control of MAEK in 1994.[6]
Sources:
[1] Vitaliy Ponomarev, "The Nuclear Industry in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan," Central Asia Monitor, No. 2, 1993, pp. 32-34.
[2] "Kaskor Suspends Production at Shevchenko Site," Nuexco Review, February 1994, p. 11.
[3] William C. Potter and Elizabeth Skinner, interview with Vladimir S. Shkolnik, Director of the Atomic Energy Agency, Republic of Kazakhstan (AEA RK) 16 April 1994, Monterey, California.
[4] Eurasia," Nuexco Review, 1992, p. 60.
[5] Paul Carroll, "The Reconstruction of the Uranium Industry in Kazakhstan," presentation at the Uranium Institute's Twenty Second Annual International Symposium 1997, Uranium Institute Website, http://www.uilondon.org/sym/1997/carroll.htm.
[6] Olga Kovalenko, "Peretyagivaniyem kanata, a ne resheniyem ekonomicheskikh problem zanimayutsya v Aktau," Kazakhstanskaya pravda, No. 217 (22174), 4 October 1996, p. 1.{Updated 8/8/2000 KB}
Volkovgeologiya JSC
SUBORDINATION: Kazatomprom
[Interfax, 30 July 1999; in "Kazakhstan Forecasts 37% Growth in Uranium Production," in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.]{Entered 8/10/2000 KB}
ADMINISTRATION: General Director: Bakhytzhan Berikbolov
ACTIVITIES: Volkovgeologiya has been exploring areas in Kazakhstan for uranium deposits since the 1940s.[1] Kazatomprom owns 90% of Volkovgeologiya shares.[2]
Sources:
[1] Natalya Todorova, "Is Uranium Our Friend or Enemy?" Kazakhstanskaya pravda, 4 April 1996, p. 5; in "Public Fears of Radiation Contamination," FBIS-SOV-96-086-S.{entered 2/12/98 djw}
[2] Interfax, 30 July 1999; in "Kazakhstan Forecasts 37% Growth in Uranium Production," Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.{Updated 8/7/2000 KB}
Zharys State Holding Company
SUBORDINATION: The relationship between Volkovgeologiya and Zharys is unclear. Bakhytzhan Berikbolov is general director of both.
ACTIVITIES: Zharys investigates areas in Kazakhstan for uranium deposits. It has also conducted radiation mapping of various areas of the republic to measure sources of radiation emission.
[Natalya Todorova, "Is Uranium Our Friend or Enemy?" Kazakhstanskaya pravda, 4 April 1996, p. 5; in "Public Fears of Radiation Contamination," FBIS-SOV-96-086-S.] {entered 2/12/98 djw} {Updated 8/8/2000 KB}
