President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has said that a referendum on plans for a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan will be held this autumn.

The national atomic company has signed a new subsoil use agreement with Kazakhstan's Minister of Energy and received approval for up to four years of pilot production of a total of 701 tU from the Inkai 3 deposit.

The Kazakh national atomic company's first quarter uranium production saw a slight year-on-year increase but its guidance metrics remain unchanged. Kazatomprom's first quarter trading announcement also included an update on plans for a new sulphuric acid plant.

Meeting pledges to triple nuclear capacity by 2050 will mean opportunities for all stages of the nuclear supply chain. These opportunities - and associated challenges - were widely discussed at the World Nuclear Fuel Cycle 2024 conference which took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

As the world's largest producer of uranium gears up for a referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant, national policymakers and stakeholders have shared Kazakhstan's vision for a civilian nuclear programme at the World Nuclear Spotlight Kazakhstan event in Almaty.

Russia's Rosatom has signed agreements relating to developing nuclear medicine centres in Nicaragua and Kazakhstan, and also a memorandum of understanding with Burkina Faso which includes potential nuclear energy projects.

Kazatomprom is "fully capable" of maintaining its position as a reliable supplier of natural uranium, with an action plan that enables it to react to evolving geopolitical events, the company said in its yearly financial results statement.

The Canadian company said it is strategically positioned to increase tier-one production and plans to begin work to extend the life of the Cigar Lake mine to 2036 as well as looking into expanding production capacity at McArthur River/Key Lake.

The Kazakh national atomic company said it expects to see a "modest" growth in 2024 production despite adjustments to its previously announced production plans related to the availability of sulphuric acid and construction delays at newly developed deposits.

The Kazakh national atomic company expects to adjust its 2024 production guidance due to factors including the availability of sulphuric acid and delays in completing construction works at newly developed deposits, although it remains committed to its delivery obligations for the year.

Technology holder Framatome has confirmed Kazatomprom has completed the qualification process for the production of AFA 3G type A fuel assemblies at the Ulba-FA LLP plant, which produces nuclear fuel for Chinese nuclear power plants. Production of type A assemblies is expected to begin this year.

Kazakhstan’s Kazatomprom has signed its first commercial uranium fuel supply contract with the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, for the United Arab Emirates' Barakah nuclear power plant.