The head of state was briefed on the creation of a state strategic uranium reserve, on exploration of new areas, and on contracts for uranium supplies to India and China, Akorda reports.

The gist in brief

• Kazatomprom is conducting geological exploration at 6 areas with a total area of more than 1 thousand km² and plans to begin exploration at the Kyzyltu area with an area of 124 km².
• The company is participating in the creation of a state strategic uranium reserve.
• In 2026, Kazatomprom signed new contracts for the supply of natural uranium with major energy companies in India and China.
• In 2026, the company allocated more than 13 billion tenge to projects in healthcare, education, and sports.

What about the reserve and exploration

Tokayev was briefed on the work to create a state strategic uranium reserve. In parallel, the company is expanding its resource base: geological exploration is underway at six areas with a total area of more than 1 thousand km², and exploration is planned to begin at the new promising Kyzyltu area with an area of 124 km². The company has already received a six-year license for geological exploration at Kyzyltu in the Kyzylorda region; the preliminary resource estimate of the area is about 10 thousand tonnes.

The head of the Atomic Energy Agency Almasadam Satkaliyev also spoke about the state strategic uranium reserve. According to him, by 2050 it is planned to reserve at least 150 thousand tonnes of uranium for fuel for future nuclear power plants, while the mechanisms, operator, and cost have not yet been determined. Separately, the country already stores an international reserve: on the territory of the Ulba Metallurgical Plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk there is the IAEA Low Enriched Uranium Bank, up to 90 tonnes of uranium hexafluoride, which belongs to the agency and is intended for emergency supplies to member countries.

Contracts with India and China

Kazatomprom is strengthening its position in the international market, developing cooperation with leading global players in the nuclear industry and diversifying its sales markets. In 2026, the company signed new contracts for the supply of natural uranium with major energy companies in India and China.

What else was included in the report

The President was told about the company's activities in the nuclear fuel cycle and about plans under the 2025-2034 development strategy. The company is conducting research to improve the efficiency of uranium production and to refine technologies for the associated extraction of rare and rare earth metals. Under the presidential program for the construction of social and infrastructure facilities, Kazatomprom in 2026 allocated more than 13 billion tenge to projects in healthcare, education, and sports.

Following the meeting, Tokayev gave instructions on developing the resource base, expanding international cooperation, and social initiatives.

What is happening with the uranium industry in Kazakhstan

The industry remains an important source of budget revenue: in 2025, uranium enterprises transferred 444.1 billion tenge to the budget, and uranium exports according to customs statistics brought in 2.98 billion dollars compared with 4.54 billion a year earlier. The geography of demand is also changing: in January-April 2026, France tripled purchases of Kazakh uranium to 2.2 thousand tonnes and overtook China.

A new player is also appearing on the market: the French company Orano announced in September a project in Mongolia, where it will apply the same in-situ leaching technology as in Kazakhstan, with industrial production to begin by 2028.

Author's conclusion

Exploration at six areas with a total area of more than 1 thousand km² and the new Kyzyltu area at 124 km² show that Kazatomprom is expanding its resource base, while contracts with India and China give the company a market for future uranium. But the main question about the reserve remains open: no public information has been provided on the volume, timelines, or who will manage it.