ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 23. The National Bank of Kazakhstan has bought shares of Kazatomprom (the national uranium company) at the expense of the National Fund of the Republic of Kazakhstan from Samruk-Kazyna (Sovereign Wealth Fund), Trend reports.
As a result of this transaction, the share of Samruk-Kazyna decreased from 75 percent to 62.9 percent.
According to official data from the Central Securities Depository of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the share sold by Samruk-Kazyna in the amount of 12 percent passed into the possession of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In accordance with the official statement of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, the government of the country decided to purchase shares of Kazatomprom from the National Fund of Kazakhstan in order to finance the republican budget.
The free float of Kazatomprom shares has not changed and remains at 25 percent with a dual listing on the London Stock Exchange and the Astana International Exchange.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's Kazatomprom Group's uranium production in 2023 amounted to 21,112 tons, which is 1 percent lower than the same period in 2022 (21,227 tons). In the fourth quarter of 2023, production amounted to 5,795 tons. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, production volume remained unchanged (5,780 tons).
Sales volume for Kazatomprom Group amounted to 18,069 tons of uranium from January through December 2023, which is 10 percent more than the same period in 2022 (16,358 tons).
In addition, Kazakhstan ranks second in the world in terms of proven natural uranium reserves. The Republic of Kazakhstan's depths contain approximately 14 percent of all proven world reserves. The entire proven reserves of uranium in the country are expected to be more than 700,000 tons.
Kazakhstan surpassed the US in uranium production in 2009 and continues to dominate the global market. Kazakhstan accounts for almost 40 percent of global uranium output.
