OREANDA-NEWS. February 10, 2012. By results of 2011, volume of uranium extraction in Kazakhstan made up nearly 19,459 tons, a 9% increase upon 2010. Kazakhstan in 2011 retained the role of a leader in the uranium extraction industry, covering 35% of the global uranium extraction which is so far valued at 55,400 tons of uranium, reported the press-centre of KASE.

Kazatomprom, with its stake in subsidiaries and affiliates taken into account, extracted 11,079 tons of uranium, or 20% of the global extraction volume.

Production of tantalum increased by 11.3% upon 2010, niobium - by 27.7 %, beryllium products - by 26.9%.

In 2011 a series of production units were put into operation at uranium extraction plants of the holding:

- the first launching unit (administrative and utilities, infrastructure) at minefield North Kharasan, site Kharasan -2 at LLP "Baiken-U";

- the first stage of construction of a quarry at site #3 of minefield Budenovskoye, capacity -  1000 tons a year, joint-venture JSC "Akbastau";

- the first stage of quarry "Semizbai", capacity - 200 tons uranium a year, at LLP "Semizbai-U";
 
- extended to 3,000 uranium a year the production compartment for processing of productive solutions at "Budenovskoye-2" at LLP "Karatau";

- in December 2011 commissioning jobs started at sulfuric acid producing plant of LLP "SK3-U" in Zhanakorgan district of Kyzylorda region. The plant's capacity will make up 500 thousand tons a year. Production of sulfuric acid for the Kazak uranium industry will begin in 2012.

Strategic objectives of Kazatomprom are focused on retaining its leading positions at the global uranium market. The company is interested in maximum diversification of operations by way of creating nuclear fuel cycles in the Republic of Kazakhstan and participating in assets abroad.