Presidents look to strengthen Kazakh-French partnership
The presidents of Kazakhstan and France say they wish to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries and recognised the importance of cooperation in energy, including nuclear, during an official visit by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The visit also included an investment round table and formal meetings between President Tokayev and the heads of Orano and EDF.
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The nations have had a bilateral strategic partnership since 2008, and this is the third consecutive year in which Tokayev and French President Emmanual Macron have visited each other: Macron visited Astana in November 2023 and Tokayev visited Paris in 2022.
In a joint declaration, the heads of state said they "welcomed the trust and regular dialogue between the two countries at all levels" and confirmed a "mutual desire to deepen, expand and diversify privileged interstate relations with a view to bringing them to the level of strengthened strategic partnership".
Energy has always been a key sector of cooperation between Kazakhstan and France, Tokayev told French industry leaders at the investment round table, and as a major supplier of oil and uranium to the European Union, Astana is ready to continue to support France's energy sovereignty. Given Kazakhstan's position as the largest producer of uranium in the world, and France's extensive nuclear industry experience, "we could cooperate in the civil nuclear energy", he said.
French company Orano is the 51% owner with Kazakhstan's national atomic company Kazatomprom of the KATCO joint venture, which it describes as the world's largest ISR (in-situ recovery, also known as in-situ leach) mine accounting for about 7% of global uranium production. At a meeting with Orano President and CEO Nicolas Maes, Tokayev stressed the "great potential" for further cooperation between Kazakhstan and Orano and "noted the importance of the partnership that will allow our country to develop high-tech industries while ensuring reliable and safe supply of natural uranium to France".
Tokayev also met with EDF Chairman and CEO Luc Remont to discuss prospects for cooperation in the energy industry. In October, the Kazakh population voted in favour of building a nuclear power plant in a national referendum, and EDF is on the short list of potential nuclear technology suppliers. Tokayev noted that Kazakhstan is considering the possibility of setting up an international consortium as a potential model for the implementation of the project.
Remont confirmed EDF's intention to continue a "mutually beneficial partnership" with Kazatomprom and also made proposals for the implementation of renewable energy projects, according to a report shared by the Kazakh presidency.
Tokayev has invited Macron to pay a state visit to Kazakhstan next year, and also invited French entrepreneurs to take part in the Astana International Forum, which will be held in May.
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