Kazakhstan's national atomic company said the delivery of uranium owned by Kazatomprom and by the Inkai joint venture has arrived at a Canadian port.

The first batch of fresh nuclear fuel from the Ulba-FA LLP joint partnership has been delivered to a Chinese nuclear power plant, Kazatomprom has announced. The shipment of AFA 3G ТМ fuel assemblies - equivalent to one reload (a little over 30 tonnes of low-enriched uranium) have been accepted by the end customer, China General Nuclear Power Corporation. 

NAC Kazatomprom said it is working to increase the 3500 tU quota limit on its trans-Caspian route, an alternative to shipment via St Petersburg. However, shipments via the alternative route may be subject to delays as it passes through different jurisdictions - Cameco said some material from the Inkai joint venture is currently being held up in Azerbaijan.

Mid- and long-term contracts have given the Kazakh uranium producer the confidence to increase its uranium production in 2024 by 2000-3000 tU above expected 2023 levels, it said in its mid-year financial update. Although its primary shipping route via St Petersburg has so far remained available, the company intends to use an alternative route via the Caspian Sea later this year.

An addendum to an existing Subsoil Use Contract signed by the Kazakh-French joint venture and the Kazakh Ministry of Energy means the industrial development of the South Tortkuduk parcel of the Muyunkum uranium deposit can go ahead. Production is expected to begin in 18 months.

JSC Kazatomprom has not experienced any issues or restrictions affecting the supply of its products to customers around the world, but is working to reinforce its alternative Caspian Sea route, the company said in its quarterly update. Uranium production was down year-on-year but its 2022 guidance remains unchanged.

First production from the McArthur River mine and Key Lake mill is expected by the end of the year despite some delays encountered in bringing the operation back from care and maintenance. Uranium shipments from its Inkai joint venture in Kazakhstan are on hold until an alternative shipping route is finalised.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants - a branch of the government's Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund - to cooperate on the introduction of nuclear power in Kazakhstan.

The IVG.1M research reactor in Kurchatov, Kazakhstan, has been restarted following the completion of a project to convert it from using highly enriched uranium fuel to low-enriched uranium fuel, the country's National Nuclear Centre announced.

It will maintain a balanced and disciplined approach to supply decisions in the early stages of a security of supply-driven market transition, CEO Tim Gitzel said in the Canadian company's quarterly results webinar. The company is on track to restart its Canadian operations but is delaying deliveries from its Kazakh operations until a new shipping route is finalised.

The global uranium market has not yet been impacted by recent geopolitical events, speakers from uranium suppliers said during a session of World Nuclear Fuel Cycle 2022 in London. However, they agreed that the longer-term future is uncertain but the industry can bring capacity online to avoid any shortages.

Recent geopolitical events have not had a material impact on Kazatomprom's group operations to date, the company said as it announced its 2021 full year results.