French state-owned company Orano created a joint venture (JV) called Nurlikum Mining with GosComGeology, the Uzbek the State Committee on Geology and Mineral resources. Orano will hold a 51% share, and GosComGeology 49%. The French-Uzbek company will conduct mineral exploration and mining activities in the country, particularly in the Djengeldi areas located in the uranium-rich province of Kyzylkum. Once the exploration permits are awarded, Nurlikum Mining plants to start its activity on the field from early 2020. The two parties signed a partnership agreement in September 2019.
Uzbekistan has significant uranium reserves (58 Mt). In 2018, Uzbekistan was the world’s 7th largest uranium producer with a total production of 2.4 Mt. Several agreements have been signed with foreign companies to create international joint ventures for uranium exploration and production. In 2008, an agreement was signed with Japanese company Mitsui & Co for the development of black-shale uranium resources at the Zapadno-Kokpatasskaya mine. In 2013, JOGMEC (Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation) signed an agreement to start a uranium exploration program in the Juzkuduk and Tamdykuduk-Tulantash region. In 2009, Goscomgeo and the China Guangdong Nuclear Uranium Corp. (CGN-URC) set up Uz-China Uran, a 50-50% uranium exploration joint venture focussed on the Boztau area (Navoi region).