Uzbekistan Intends to Auction Seven Uranium Deposits
Uzbek authorities plan to hold open auctions for development of seven uranium deposits located in the country. The intention was voiced by Nariman Mavlyanov, the Head of the Uzbek State Committee on Geology and Mineral Resources, AFP reports.
As Fergana.ru reported earlier in January of 2009 the Navoi Mining and Metallurgy Combinat, the sole operator for uranium extraction, enrichment and export in Uzbekistan, announced its plans to set in operation seven new uranium deposits. In five of these deposits- Sugraly, Northern Kenimeh, Ketmenchi, Meilysai and Tutlinskaya area- the exploration works have already been completed. It is possible that Mavlyanov means these deposits as well.
According to him, the Uzbek Government will announce the bidding in March of 2010. Relevant departments are now preparing all necessary documents for auction.
“Tenders will be open and any international company will be able to bid” – added Mavlyanov.
Based on data of IAEA, Uzbekistan is the sevenths country in the globe by its uranium reserves and fifth by its extraction volumes. About forty uranium deposits have been explored in the country, with 27 of them being the major deposits. According to the information center of the State Committee on Geology and Mineral Resources the explored and estimated uranium reserves of the country total to 185,8 thousand tons. In 2007 the uranium extraction in Uzbekistan increased by 0,5% and reached 2,27 thousand tons. Uzbekistan does not have its own nuclear industry; therefore the whole volume of low-enriched uranium production is exported. Over the last several years Uzbekistan did not let in Japan and South Korea to develop its uranium deposits.
