BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 7. Nurlikum Mining joint venture's feasibility study for the Djengeldi project will guide future investments, a source from Orano told Trend.
“The finalization of the feasibility study of the Djengeldi project in order to determine the economic profitability of the project. The conclusions will trigger the decision-making for the launch of the investment phase,” the source said.
According to the source, Nurlikum Mining's activities include geological exploration (drilling, laboratory analysis, and modeling) in order to qualify additional mineral resources necessary to make the mining project more robust.
The mining also conducts an industrial pilot to confirm the feasibility of extracting uranium resources using the ‘In Situ Recovery’ (ISR) method. The pilot started in November 2022 and continues its operations in 2024.
“In addition to the current project, which represents a first step in Orano's cooperation with Uzbekistan, Orano signed a strategic framework agreement in November 2022 with Uzbekistan's GoscomGeology and Navoiyuran,” the source noted.
The representative of the company emphasized that the agreement provides the definition of a roadmap for the development of the Djengeldi project, the launch of a joint exploration program, as well as the development and production of new uranium mines in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan and Orano formed a Nurlikum Mining joint venture in December 2019. Nurlikum Mining's objective is to handle uranium exploration and valorization activities, primarily in the Djengeldi region, in the heart of Uzbekistan's uranium province, and to develop projects.
Earlier on June 3–4, the delegation from Uzbekistan headed by the Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov paid a visit to France to participate in the 10th session of the Uzbek-French Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.
Within the framework of the session, Uzbekistan's minister held a meeting with the Orano Group to discuss further development of cooperation.