Kazatomprom

Kazatomprom is the national operator of Kazakhstan for import and export of uranium, rare- and rare-earth metals, and nuclear fuel components for power plants. Kazatomprom was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Astana, Kazakhstan by the Decree of the President of Kazakhstan and is a subsidiary of National Welfare Fund "Samruk-Kazyna". Since 2010, Kazatomprom has been the world leader in natural uranium production.

Natural uranium is extracted in an environmentally safe and cost-effective manner utilizing in-situ leaching methods (ISL). Kazakhstani uranium concentrate covers more than 40% of the world peaceful nuclear energy needs and is delivered to all countries that utilize nuclear power.

The assets of the National Atomic Company today include the whole range of companies involved in the chain of production of the final product - from geological exploration, uranium production, manufacture of nuclear fuel cycle products to science, social welfare and training.

Kazatomprom operates under long-term contracts with major international energy companies.

Products and services of JSC "NAC" Kazatomprom"

• Geological exploration
• Natural uranium mining
• Uranium products: natural uranium concentrates, uranium dioxide powders of ceramic grade, fuel pellets
• Renewable energy sources: Bolotov’s wind rotor turbines, heat pumping installations (HPI)
• Designing of HPI
• Quartz, metallurgical grade silicon, photovoltaic cells and wafers
• Bulk concentrate of rare-earth metals
• Beryllium, Tantalum, Niobium products
• Generation of electrical and heat energy
• Distilled, industrial and portable water production

Production

Uranium production

Kazatomprom together with its subsidiaries operates 22 uranium mines. Natural uranium is extracted in an environmentally safe and cost-effective manner utilizing in-situ leaching method (ISL). In-situ leaching is a method of development of the sandstone-hosted ore deposits without elevation of ore to the surface, but by selective transportation of natural uranium into the product solution directly into the uranium deposit. In this case, the uranium bearing ore remains underground in contrast to the conventional methods of extraction (mining and open-pit). The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) acknowledges this technology as the most environment friendly and safe method of deposit development, which does not require significant expenses for reclamation. Total cost in the ISL enterprises is approximately 2 to 3 times lower than in the enterprises with conventional methods of uranium production (mining and open-pit). Kazatomprom also represents Kazakhstan in the joint ventures with Russian Tekhsnabexport, French Areva and Canadian Cameco.

Advantages of PSV:

• Cost-efficiency
• Low production costs
• High produce ability
• Increased productivity
• Environmental Safety
• No dumps and tailings
• Self-soil remediation

Processing of natural uranium

Kazatomprom developed and introduced modern technology of processing of uranium chemical concentrates. The company is able to produce both conventional technical uranium oxide, which on further processing of conversion refineries requires additional training for fluorination and uranium oxide, suitable for direct fluorination factory converter. Conversion Services: Kazatomprom plans to build a Uranium Trioxide (UO3) production plant in cooperation with Cameco. The produced UO3 will be delivered from the proposed location at Ulba Metallurgical Plant to Port Hope (Ontario, Canada) for conversion to UF6. Enrichment Services: Kazatomprom currently holds a 25% ownership share in the Uranium Enrichment Center (Angarsk, Russian Federation). Rosatom operates the facility and holds the remaining 75% ownership. Under the terms of the joint venture project of JSC "UEC" has access to uranium enrichment services in the amount of 2,5 million SWU per year.

UO2 Powder, Pellets and Fuel Fabrication Services: Kazatomprom and the China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGNPC) plan to construct a fuel assembly production plant at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant location. This joint venture will manufacture fuel assemblies for nuclear power plants in China.

Beryllium Production

Beryllium production of Kazatomprom is one of three enterprises in the world with full production cycle from ore concentrate processing to finished products output with the rated quality set-ups. Process line developed at the facility allows to convert almost any beryllium containing raw material.

Unique process equipment available at the facility allows to produce wide range of products on Be and its alloys base. Hydro-Static and Gas-Static pressing facilities provide for the production of items with isotropic properties.

Production of tantalum and niobium

Tantalum production of Kazatomprom is a single enterprise in the CIS and one of the world's largest enterprises with the full production cycle from processing of tantalum and niobium containing raw materials to finished products.

The tantalum production at Kazatomprom is remarkable for its flexible technology of processing of any kinds of tantalum and niobium raw materials, including those hard to digest. This technology allows to manufacture products with the set quality parameters.

Kazatomprom is a certified producer of fuel pellets for the following types of reactors:

• Fuel pellets for reactors Russian VVER design, the RBMK, including with the addition of burnable absorbers;
• Fuel pellets for fuel AFA 3G French design.

Ulba Metallurgical Plant

Kazatomprom processes their materials at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan. It is the largest metallurgic processing facility in Kazakhstan. The facility holds the world's #1 rank as the largest processor of uranium products, second largest processor of beryllium products and third largest processor of tantalum and niobium products.Template:Citation needed

Other operations

Kazatomprom, through its subsidiaries, engages in geological exploration; Uranium, Tantalum, and Niobium production; and power generation operations. It produces triuranium octoxide, fuel pellets, uranium dioxide powders, and natural uranium concentrate; and beryllium metal ingots, beryllium powder, copper-beryllium master alloys, aluminium-beryllium master alloys, nickel-beryllium master alloys, and beryllia based ceramics, as well as processes uranium-containing scraps, remains, and off-spec industrial products. The company also produces tantalum ingots, tantalum chips, tantalum mill products, rods, wires, powder, capacitor materials, plates and Yttrium refined Tantalum; and niobium pentoxide, niobium ingots, niobium chips, niobium mill products, niobium rods, plates wires, and niobium powder. In addition, it engages in the generation of electric and thermal power, and water; and provision of training in uranium mining. The company is also involved in reactor decommissioning, hydrofluoric acid production and research and development works.

Development strategy

In 2015 JSC NAC Kazatomprom actualized the Development Strategy for 2015-2025. In accordance with the expectations of the Sole Shareholder JSC "Samruk-Kazyna", it identified the following strategic objectives:

The increase in the company value of Kazatomprom 3 times and change in the EVA As a result of the adoption of comprehensive measures for the implementation of the Development Strategy the adopted Transformation program it is planned to improve Kazatomprom efficiency, and by 2025 to increase the economic value added (EVA) of the Company.

Maintaining leading positions of Kazatomprom in production of natural uranium and achieving leading position in uranium sales Since 2009 JSC NAC Kazatomprom has been the world’s leader in uranium production, providing as of today about 20% of production at the world market. To maintain its position the Company will on a regular basis make up the uranium resource base, optimize all types of costs, introduce advanced technologies aimed at improvement of the efficiency of uranium production and reduction of the cost of the finished product. Kazatomprom will also improve its marketing policy and tactics at the natural uranium market.

Diversification into all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle and creation of high-tech production As part of business diversification into all stages of front-end nuclear fuel cycle, Сompany plans to produce uranium products with high added value while having more conditions for long-term supply to the world market of Kazakhstan's uranium in the form of nuclear fuel, in the form of uranium hexafluoride (including enriched uranium) by providing services for conversion, enrichment and fabrication of nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants.

Attraction, development and preservation of the best human resources in Kazakhstan The Development Strategy focuses on the improvement of HR policy. The company will create all conditions for HR attraction, retention, and development. Through Kazatomprom grants, the talented graduates will be attracted for training in specialized fields. It is planned to introduce rotations of employees within the Holding, competency assessment system for staff recruitment and appointment to senior positions.

Kazatomprom’s Social Responsibility

Kazatomprom is one of the largest socially oriented companies in Kazakhstan, for which the main value is its human capital and their welfare.

The priority directions of the Kazatomprom social activities are:

• Support of science and education
• Support of health and culture
• Promotion of healthy lifestyles of employees
• Charity and sponsorship of public activities
• Professional development of employees
• Safe working conditions that meet all safety, occupational health and environmental standards

Since its foundation, Kazatomprom has financed the construction of a number of social projects. The company has built and renovated hospitals, schools, kindergartens, sports clubs, bridges, entertainment centers and other social facilities.

See also

• Energy policy of Kazakhstan
• Anti-nuclear movement in Kazakhstan
• List of countries by uranium production

External links

• Corporate website of Kazatomprom
• Corporate website of Ulba Metallurgical Plant