French nuclear group Areva said Wednesday it had reached an agreement with its Kazakh partner to boost uranium production in Kazakhstan to 4,000 tonnes a year until 2039 from 1,000 currently.
The draft agreement was signed by Areva chief executive Anne Lauvergeon and the head of the Kazakh group Kazatomprom, Moukhtar Dzhakishev.
Under terms of the accord, the joint venture Katco, owned 51 percent by Areva and 49 percent by Kazatomprom, would turn out 4,000 tonnes of uranium a year until 2039. Katco would mine the uranium and Areva would sell it.
Areva would also provide engineering assistance to build fuel fabrication lines in Ulba, Kazakhstan, an Areva statement said.
Dzhakishev said the arrangement was "a milestone in establishing a vertically integrated company."
For Lauvergeon the accord "will help diversify our fuel reserves and secure supplies for our customers."
She said Kazakhstan would join Niger and Canada as one of Areva's three main partner countries for uranium production.
