Kazatomprom, JUMCO sign agreement on Jordan mining project

The purpose of the agreement, which was signed during an official visit to Kazakhstan by King Abdullah of Jordan, is to "formalise the intentions of the parties and define the main conditions for the implementation of this project", Kazatomprom said. "The document is aimed at developing strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Jordan, new opportunities for international cooperation, and also expands Kazatomprom's position in the global uranium industry."

Kazatomprom CEO Meirzhan Yussupov described the agreement as a landmark initiative. "Our partnership aims to combine Jordan's unique resource base with Kazakhstan's proven experience in sustainable and efficient uranium mining. We look forward to explore the Central Jordan Uranium Project, which has the potential to serve as an example of prospective international cooperation in the nuclear sector," he said.

Khaled Toukan, chairman of JUMCO's Board of Directors, said the agreement represents a major step forward for Jordan's nuclear fuel cycle strategy. "By partnering with the world's leading uranium producer, we are ensuring that Jordan's uranium resources will be developed in line with best international practices while delivering value to our national economy," he added.

Jordan has significant uranium resources: according to the 2024 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' - as of January 2023 it had 63,019 tU of identified conventional resources, and 98,000 tU of so-called unconventional uranium resources. These unconventional resources are related to phosphorites, and occur within the Al Risha and Eshidiyya areas.

JUMCO - the Jordan Uranium Mining Company - was established in 2013. In 2024, it announced that it would build a 300-400 tU per year uranium mill in the country’s central region, about 80 km south of Amman, known as the Central Jordan Uranium Project (CJUP), where a pilot plant became operational in 2021.

"The signing of this Heads of Agreement is a historic milestone for Jordan and for JUMCO," JUMCO General Manager Mohammad Al-Shannag said. "After extensive meetings and exchange visits, we are confident this partnership will transform Jordan's uranium resources into a cornerstone of sustainable development. Working with Kazatomprom will bring advanced technologies, job creation, and knowledge transfer that will benefit Jordan for decades to come."

Earlier this year, Kazatomprom and JUMCO signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation on the joint study of uranium exploration and mining projects in Jordan in order to assess their potential for further development.