Uzbekistan and France sign new agreement on uranium mining

The state enterprise "Navoiyuran" and the large French nuclear energy corporation Orano have signed an agreement on the industrial-scale development of the South Jongeldi uranium deposit.

Orano says the mine will have a uranium production potential of at least 10 years. The mine's certified reserves are sufficient to support continuous mining, with a peak production rate of 700 metric tons of uranium per year.

Uzbekistan holds one of the world's leading uranium reserves and is striving for economic development primarily through the export of this resource.

Cooperation with the French corporation Orano will further strengthen international ties in this area and attract advanced technologies and investments, official reports say.