The Uzbek-French joint venture Nurlikum Mining plans to begin industrial-scale uranium extraction at the South Dzhetynkeldy deposit by the end of 2025. The announcement was made by the company’s CEO, Benoît Lemoine, during the Tashkent International Investment Forum, according to Gazeta.uz.
Nurlikum Mining was established in 2019 by France’s Orano Mining and Uzbekistan’s state-owned enterprise Navoiyuran. Over the past five years, the company has obtained two exploration licenses and carried out more than 200,000 meters of drilling. A pilot project has also been completed, confirming the viability of uranium production at the site.
“We are close to making a final investment decision. It is expected in the coming months, and definitely before the end of this year,” Lemoine stated.
He also noted that Japan’s ITOCHU Corporation is set to join the project, having already acquired a stake in Nurlikum Mining. The Japanese company will enhance the strategic partnership formed under a bilateral agreement signed between Uzbekistan and France in 2022.
According to certified estimates, the South Dzhetynkeldy deposit is projected to support uranium production for over a decade. Peak annual output is expected to reach 700 metric tons. In the first development phase, roughly $214 million will be invested over three years, with average annual production estimated at 500 tons.
The deposit will become part of Navoiyuran’s production base, with the Uzbek company serving as project operator. The agreement between the partners includes commitments to environmental protection, safety standards, job creation, and local community support.
Uzbekistan already ranks as the world’s seventh-largest uranium producer, according to the World Nuclear Association. In 2023, the country’s uranium exports exceeded $450 million, with France, South Korea, and China among its key partners. Amid international sanctions on suppliers from Russia and Niger, Uzbek uranium is increasingly seen as a strategic alternative.
As part of its national development targets, Uzbekistan plans to double its annual uranium output to 7,100 tons by 2030 - up from 3,500 tons in 2022.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
June 18, 2025