Kyushu buys into Kazakh uranium project

[Reuters, 25 September] Kyushu Electric Power Co has become the sixth Japanese company to acquire an interest in a project to develop uranium mines in Kazakhstan. The 2.5% stake it has bought from Marubeni for an undisclosed sum will entitle Kyushu to 50 tonnes of uranium per year from mines being developed by the Kharasan project. It joins Marubeni, Toyko Electric Power Co (TEPCO), Chubu Electric Power Co, Tohuko Electric Power Co and Toshiba Corp, who together own a 40% stake of the Kharasan holding company. The Kharasan project is scheduled to start test production by the end of 2007, with commercial production expected to commence in the first quarter of 2008. The six Japanese companies will have a right to a total of 2000 tonnes of uranium per year under the project.

Further information

Kazatomprom
Kyushu Electric Power Co

WNA's Nuclear Power in Japan information paper
WNA's Uranium Nuclear Power in Kazakhstan information paper

WNN: Toshiba buys into Kazakh uranium project
WNN: Japanese companies participate in Kazakh uranium project