Kazakhstan, Jordan team up for uranium studies

Wednesday, 19 February 2025

The document - signed during an official visit of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Jordan - focuses on the joint study of uranium exploration and mining projects in Jordan in order to assess their potential for further development.

This initiative, Kazatomprom said, is aimed at refining geological characteristics and resources estimates of the deposits considering the heap leaching mining technology. Significant emphasis will be placed on environmental sustainability and economic feasibility of the project when evaluating the potential for its implementation, it added.

"Implementation of joint projects opens up promising opportunities for Jordan's nuclear industry, including new labour market opportunities, infrastructure development, and engagement of local contractors," Kazatomprom noted. "For Kazakhstan, the world's leading uranium producer, entering a new market could be a significant step toward expanding its global presence, strengthening strategic positions, and enhancing bilateral economic ties with Jordan."

It added: "Knowledge exchange, adoption of new technologies, and collaborative efforts to improve industry standards will establish a strong and sustainable foundation for the development of the uranium sector in both countries."

Kazatomprom CEO Meirzhan Yussupov said: "Partnership with Jordan Uranium Mining Company (JUMCO) opens new avenues for international cooperation and strengthens Kazakhstan's position in the global uranium industry, supporting our strategic goals to expand and efficiently utilise our resource base. Furthermore, potential development of projects beyond Kazakhstan presents a unique opportunity to gain global expertise and contribute to the sustainable development of our nations."

"This memorandum aims to develop joint uranium mining projects in Jordan and sets the potential stage for JUMCO to accelerate its pace toward commercial production of uranium in Jordan through cooperation with Kazatomprom," said JUMCO General Manager Mohammad Al-Shannag. "Indeed, it will pave the ground for JUMCO to facilitate knowledge exchange, share experience and marketing techniques with Kazatomprom, a world leader in uranium production."

JUMCO is the commercial arm of the Jordanian Atomic Energy Commission and was established in 2013 to carry out radioactive elements exploration and development in Jordan. Its exploration and development efforts have been focused on the Central Jordan Uranium Project, where a pilot plant began operation in early 2021. JUMCO later that year said the plant was fully operational.

According to the 2022 edition of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and International Atomic Energy Agency joint report on uranium resources, production and demand - known as the 'Red Book' - Jordan has 62,000 tU as inferred resources. The total includes 33,300 tU JORC-compliant in central Jordan, and an estimated 28,700 tU in the Hasa-Qatrana area. Some 100,000 tU is estimated in phosphate deposits as a possible by-product.