Kazakhstan intends to create strategic uranium reserve of at least 150,000 tonnes by 2050Kazakhstan plans to reserve at least 150,000 tonnes of uranium by 2050 to meet long-term nuclear power needs, the head of the Atomic Energy Agency Almassadam Satkaliyev said."In order to provide future nuclear power plants with the required fuel, creating a state strategic uranium reserve is being worked on. The strategy for the development of the nuclear industry until 2050 provides for reserving at least 150,000 tonnes of uranium by 2050, as well as the formation and approval of conceptual approaches to creating a strategic uranium reserve," Satkaliyev said at a meeting of the parliamentary committee on economic policy, industry and energy.The agency is working to determine approaches and mechanisms for forming a state strategic uranium reserve, taking into account the country's long-term nuclear power needs, he said.It is assumed that the strategic reserve will be formed as a multi-level and comprehensive system covering the entire nuclear fuel supply chain - from reserving uranium deposits in the subsurface to forming a physical stock of natural uranium, a reserve of finished nuclear fuel and other mechanisms, he said.According to the country's nuclear industry development strategy, uranium in Kazakhstan is mined at 14 enterprises located in the Kyzylorda, Turkestan, North Kazakhstan and Akmola regions, 12 of which are joint ventures of Kazatomprom with foreign partners from China, Russia, France, Canada and Japan.Kazakhstan has the world's second-largest proven explored uranium reserves - around 1 million tonnes as of the beginning of 2025, which accounts for approximately 14% of global resources.It is planned that several nuclear power plants will be built in Kazakhstan. The first, Balkhash, will be built by Rosatom; a roadmap for the construction of two VVER-1200 power units was signed in 2025. Construction of the plant is to begin in 2027 and may be completed in 2035-2036.The second nuclear power plant, with two 1,200 MW units, Moinakum, will also be built at Balkhash. Chinese company CNPC is being considered as the priority partner for the construction of the second nuclear power plant. Sites for two more nuclear power plants are being studied. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX