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Kazatomprom and the Ulba Metallurgical Plant, Kazakhstan
NUKEM’s relationship with the nuclear industry in Kazakhstan also began in 1992, with the conclusion of a long-term contract for the supply of a majority of Kazakhstan’s natural U3O8 production, and has been an exceptionally good collaboration.
Kazatomprom is now one of the largest and most dynamic uranium producers in the world. The organization was formed in 1997 from the National Atomic Company KATEP, and initially included the Stepnoye, Centralnoye and Chilli Mining Companies and the Ulba Metallurgical Plant in Ust Kamenogorsk.
Although NUKEM’s focus in Kazakhstan was initially limited to natural uranium concentrates, the company’s scope of activities expanded dramatically with the development of several projects involving the Ulba Metallurgical Plant. Founded in 1949, the Ulba Plant became a critical element of the nuclear fuel cycle of the former Soviet Union. The plant is organized into three primary production facilities: uranium, beryllium and tantalum. The uranium plant is designed to convert natural and enriched uranium in gaseous, solid and liquid form into commercial-grade uranium dioxide powder and pellets for use in nuclear power plants. Through a series of commercial contracts with important strategic significance, NUKEM has facilitated the qualification of Ulba uranium dioxide powder at several Western fabricators.
Operations at the Ulba beryllium plant have undergone considerable change since their nadir in the late 1990s. Through an important commercial supply arrangement with NUKEM and Brush Wellman, the Ulba plant installed a new line for the efficient production of copper-beryllium master alloy.
NUKEM and Kazakhstan have successfully fought to eliminate trade barriers to the sale of Kazakhstan uranium in the United States and Europe, and NUKEM plays an active role in the U.S.-Kazakhstan Business Association.
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