Paris: French Industry and Energy Minister
Eric Besson signed a deal with the government of Kazakhstan
today that will see France's Areva open a nuclear fuel plant
with Kazakh firm Kazatomprom, his office said.
"This deal commits to the creation in Kazakhstan, the top
global producer of uranium, of a nuclear fuel production plant
dedicated to the Asian market," a statement said.
"The construction of this plant could start as soon as the
feasibility study is completed by the end of the first quarter
of 2012," it added.
Besson was on a visit Friday and Saturday to Kazakhstan.
Areva said the plant would consist of a new production
line at Kazakhstan's ULBA metallurgical plant that will be 51
per cent owned by Kazatomprom and 49 per cent by Areva.
PTI
First Published: Friday, November 04, 2011, 23:58