Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Oct. 31 / Trend D. Azizov /
Uzbekistan may sign a production sharing agreement (PSA) on the joint geological exploration and development of uranium deposits in the discovered prospective areas in the Navoi region in 2013, a source in government circles told Trend on Wednesday.
A source said that the Japan National Oil Corporation and Gas and Metals (JOGMEC) may act as partners in the PSA.
Currently, JOGMEC has prepared the PSA draft which is now being examined by the relevant ministries and departments. The government has instructed the speeding up of the content of the agreement.
It was previously reported that the Uzbek State Committee on Geology and Mineral Resources and JOGMEC signed an agreement on the joint exploration on three prospective uranium areas - Darvazin, Jurgantau and North Tamdytau located in the Navoi region in 2009. Black shale ore was discovered here. The results are not disclosed.
Uzbekistan is among the top 10 countries in the world in terms of uranium reserves and its production.
The Uzbek State Committee on Geology and Mineral Resources said that the basis of the uranium mineral resource base of the country is 27 fields located in the Kyzylkum region. Reliable total uranium reserves are estimated at 55,000 tons.
There are two types of uranium deposits - black shale and sandstone in the mineral resources base of the republic. It is easier to extract the sandstone type. It is developed by the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine.
Currently, three facilities in the complex produce uranium by using an in situ leach (ISL) method. Uranium is processed at the hydrometallurgical plant GMZ-1 in Navoi. The plant can produce more than 3000 tons of uranium per year.
Uzbekistan is not a consumer of uranium products. All produced uranium is exported via Nukem Inc.