UZBEKISTAN AND JAPAN AGREE ON JOINT EXPLORATION OF URANIUM MINEFIELDS

TASHKENT. June 19. (CA-News)

Uzbek State committee on geology and mineral resources and Japanese oil, gas, and metals corporation (JOGMEC)

signed an agreement on joint exploration of uranium minefields, REGNUM Novosti reported with reference to source in governmental circles of the republic. According to reached agreement, Uzbekistan and Japan will share potential profits equally, source reported. "Japanese side will invest about US $500 thousand into the project this year, and works in Navoi region will start this September. Project is planned to be finished in March, 2010," source noted. Japanese concern Mitsui & Co., Ltd. singed a protocol with UzbekStateUzbek StateCentral Kyzylkumy) with Japanese Sojitz Corp. In November 2006, State committee on geology and mineral resources and Itochu corporation signed a protocol on intentions of examining possibilities of joint venture establishment for development of uranium-ore objects of black-shale kind and conducting geological prospective works on Rudnoe minefield. committee on geology and mineral resources, providing for a possibility of establishment of joint venture on uranium extraction. committee on geology and mineral resources also signed a protocol on intentions of conducting geological prospecting works on uranium perspective area "Chetvertoe". It was reported earlier, that State enterprise "Navoi ore mining and smelting combine" plans to invest into construction of new uranium mines US $63.5 million for five years. In frames of increasing uranium extraction to the end of 2012 expansion and reconstruction of sulfuric production for a cost of about US $12 million will be realized. Realization of program will allow to increase uranium extraction in 2012 1.5 times. Uzbekistan is on the seventh place in the world on uranium reserves and on the fifth on its extraction. About 40 uranium minefields, 27 of which are basic, have been explored in the country to this moment. Explored and evaluated uranium reserves constitute 185.8 thousand tons, according to Uzbek State committee on geology and mineral resources. In 2007 uranium extraction in Uzbekistan increased 0.5% - up to 2.27 thousand tons. Republic does not have own atomic industry, and all produced uranium is exported.

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