French nuclear materials company Orano and Uzbekistan’s state-owned Navoiyuran have signed an agreement to develop the South Djengeldi Uzbekistan uranium project through their joint venture, Nurlikum Mining, with Japanese firm ITOCHU Corporation joining as a minority stakeholder. Orano did not specify the size of ITOCHU’s stake in the partnership, which integrates South Djengeldi into Navoiyuran’s existing operations, with the Uzbek company serving as the project operator.
Orano stated that, based on certified resources, South Djengeldi is expected to maintain production for over ten years, reaching a peak output of 700 tU. The partners will also launch an exploration program aimed at doubling the project’s mineral resources to enhance its long-term potential.
The 2022 Red Book by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and IAEA reports Uzbekistan had 131,290 tU of identified uranium resources as of 1 January 2021, recoverable at up to USD 130 per kgU. Uzbekistan, a uranium producer since 1946, has used in-situ recovery methods since the mid-1990s. World Nuclear Association data shows the country produced an estimated 3300 tU in 2022, ranking fifth globally and contributing about 7% to world uranium output.
