Uranium One is engaged through its subsidiaries and joint ventures in uranium production, and in the exploration and development of uranium properties, in Kazakhstan, Tanzania and elsewhere. Uranium One is focused on low cost and low technical risk operations, with existing, near and medium-term production visibility in some of the world’s largest uranium resource jurisdictions.

Uranium One is a joint venture partner with JSC NAC Kazatomprom, the Kazakhstan state-owned atomic energy company, in six major producing uranium mines in Kazakhstan – Akdala, South Inkai, Karatau, Akbastau, Zarechnoye and Kharasan. The company is the operator of, and owns a 13.9 percent interest in, the Mkuju River uranium development project in Tanzania.

Uranium One’s revenues are largely derived from the sale of uranium concentrates. The company sells its uranium to major nuclear utilities in Russia, Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Asia.

Kazakhstan is the world’s leading producer of uranium, accounting for almost 40 percent of global uranium production (22,808 tonnes U in 2019). All uranium is produced by the in situ recovery (ISR) mining method. The country has about 26 percent of the world’s known low-cost uranium resources in the category below $80/kgU.

In 2016, Uranium One’s share of the production from its six Kazakhstan joint ventures was 12.73 million lbs. of U₃O₈ (4,896 tonnes of uranium).

In Kazakhstan, Uranium One holds a 70 percent interest in JV “SMCC” LLP, which owns the Akdala and South Inkai uranium mines; a 50 percent interest in Karatau LLP, which owns the Karatau uranium mine; a 50 percent interest in JSC “JV «Akbastau”, which owns the Akbastau uranium mine; a 49.98 percent interest in JSC “JV “ZARECHNOYE”, which owns the Zarechnoye uranium mine; and a 30 percent interest in JV “Khorasan-U” LLP, which owns the Kharasan uranium mine.

Akbastau is an operating ISR uranium mine comprising the No. 1, 3 and 4 sections of the Budenovskoye uranium deposit, located in the Chu-Sarysu basin of the Suzak region, South Kazakhstan province. Employing about 40 people, JSC “JV «Akbastau” is owned indirectly as to 50 percent by Uranium One through the JSC “JV «Akbastau” joint venture, a Kazakhstan limited liability partnership. The other 50 percent interest is owned by Kazatomprom.

Akbastau is located adjacent to the Karatau uranium mine. Production began at Akbastau in 2009. JSC “JV «Akbastau” has the right to carry on exploration, mining and sales operations from the No. 1, 3 and 4 sections of the Budenovskoye uranium deposit under long-term subsoil use contracts with the Government of Kazakhstan. In 2016, production from the JSC “JV «Akbastau” mine was 4.58 million lbs. of U₃O₈ (1,762 tonnes of uranium), of which 2.29 million lbs. (881 tonnes of uranium) was attributable to Uranium One. JSC “JV «Akbastau” entered into a toll processing agreement with Karatau, under which a part of pregnant solutions and eluates produced at Akbastau are currently processed at Karatau.

Akdala is an operating in situ recovery (ISR) uranium mine located in the Chu-Sarysu basin of the Suzak region, South Kazakhstan province. With roughly 435 employees, 70 percent of Akdala is owned indirectly by Uranium One through the JV “SMCC” LLP, a Kazakhstan limited liability partnership. The other 30 percent interest is owned by Kazatomprom.

Production began at Akdala in 2004. JV “SMCC” LLP has the right to carry on exploration, mining and sales operations at Akdala under a long-term subsoil use contract with the Government of Kazakhstan.

In 2016, production from the Akdala mine was 2.6 million lbs. of U₃O₈ (1,000 tonnes of uranium), of which 1.8 million lbs. (700.5 tonnes of uranium) was attributable to Uranium One.

South Inkai is an operating ISR uranium mine located in the Chu-Sarysu basin of the Suzak region, South Kazakhstan province that employs approximately 520 people. South Inkai is owned indirectly as to 70 percent by Uranium One through SMCC joint venture, a Kazakhstan limited liability partnership. The other 30 percent interest is owned by Kazatomprom.

Production began at South Inkai in 2009. SMCC has the right to carry on exploration, mining and sales operations at South Inkai under a long-term subsoil use contract with the Government of Kazakhstan.

In 2016, production from the Akdala mine was 5.3 million lbs. of ₃O₈ (2,056 tonnes of uranium), of which 3.7 million lbs. (1,439 tonnes of uranium) was attributable to Uranium One.

Karatau is an operating ISR uranium mine comprising the No. 2 section of the Budenovskoye uranium deposit, located in the Chu-Sarysu basin of the Suzak region, South Kazakhstan province. Employing approximately 620 people, Karatau is owned indirectly as to 50 percent by Uranium One through the Karatau LLP, a Kazakhstan limited liability partnership. The other 50 percent interest is owned by Kazatomprom.

Karatau is located adjacent to the Akbastau uranium mine. Production began at Karatau in 2009. Karatau LLP has the right to carry on exploration, mining and sales operations in the No. 2 section of the Budenovskoye uranium deposit under a long-term subsoil use contract with the Government of Kazakhstan.

In 2016, production from the Karatau mine was 5.4 million lbs. of U₃O₈ (2,081 tonnes of uranium), of which 2.7 million lbs. (1,040.5 tonnes of uranium) was attributable to Uranium One.

Kharasan is an operating ISR uranium mine located in the Syr Darya basin in the Zhanakorgan region, Kyzylorda province, which employs approximately 415 people. Uranium One has a 30 percent indirect interest in the Kharasan mine through a 30 percent interest in JV “Khorasan-U” LLP, a Kazakhstan limited liability partnership. The remaining interests in the mine are held by Kazatomprom, as to 33.98 percent, and by a consortium of Japanese utilities and a trading company, as to the balance.

Commercial production began at Kharasan in 2013. JV “Khorasan-U” LLP has the right to carry on exploration, mining and sales operations under a long-term subsoil use contract with the Government of Kazakhstan.

In the 2016 year, production from the Kharasan mine was 3.65 million lbs. of U₃O₈ (1,404 tonnes of uranium), of which 1.1 million lbs. (421 tonnes of uranium) was attributable to Uranium One.

Zarechnoye is an operating ISR uranium mine located in the Syr Darya basin in the Otrar district, South Kazakhstan province, which employs approximately 410 people. Uranium One has a 49.98 percent indirect interest in the Zarechnoye uranium mine through the JSC “JV “ZARECHNOYE” joint venture, a Kazakhstan joint stock company. Kazatomprom holds an equivalent 49.98 percent interest; the remaining interest is held by a Kyrgyzstan JSC Karabalty Mining Combine.

Production began at Zarechnoye in 2009. JSC “JV “ZARECHNOYE” has the right to carry on exploration, mining and sales operations under a long-term subsoil use contract with the Government of Kazakhstan.

In 2016, production from the Zarechnoye mine was 2.15 million lbs. of U₃O₈ (828 tonnes of uranium), of which 1.08 million lbs. (414 tonnes of uranium) was attributable to Uranium One.

Uranium One’s Mkuju River Project, when operational, will be Tanzania’s first uranium mine. It will establish Tanzania among the top 5 producers of uranium in Africa.

The Mkuju River Project is a world-class uranium development project located in southern Tanzania, about 470 kilometers southwest of Dar es Salaam. Mantra Tanzania Limited is the owner of the Mkudzhu River and is a part of the Rosatom State Corporation. Mantra Tanzania Limited has a special mining license issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Tanzania.

The Mkudzhu River project with the Nyota deposit is one of the world's largest uranium projects with a resource reserve of 152 million tons of ore. From 2017 to 2020, the project was under maintenance.

The Mkuju River Project marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to Tanzania and to Africa that will benefit Tanzania and its citizens by creating jobs, providing new local and regional infrastructure, supporting community projects and potentially making it a globally significant producer of uranium. In partnership with the Tanzanian government, Uranium One and Mantra look forward to making a lasting positive impact on the nation’s economy and its people.

Headspring Investments (Proprietary) Limited is the owner of the project in Namibia . The company is currently conducting the geological exploration works in the Aranos Basin in Namibia with the aim of discovering new uranium deposits suitable for mining by in-situ leaching (ISL). Geological exploration and engineering work is planned until 2027. Headspring Investments Ltd. (a subsidiary of Uranium One) holds eight exclusive exploration licenses to identify promising sites for uranium mining in the Omaheke, Homas, and Hardap regions in eastern Namibia. In-situ leach technology (ISL) is a safe, proven and most cost-effective method for uranium mining. This technology has a lower environmental impact than underground or open-pit mining. At uranium deposits in Kazakhstan all uranium is produced by the ISL method.

Contacts for Media: polyakovskaya@rosatom.com

In the framework of ROSATOM’s overall strategy on the development of low-carbon energy and renewables Uranium One rapidly develops the new and high-potential business area – promotion of the “made in Russia” biofuel on the global market.

Bioenergy is related to renewable energy, since it is processed biowaste that is being used as fuel, while solving issues of utilization of the waste created by the timber industry complex and agrifood industry, as well as lignin and peat. Thus, Uranium One promotes responsibility towards resource management and rational models of consumption by encouraging eco-friendly waste-free production technologies.

Within the new business activity, starting from 2019, Uranium One has already been carrying out export deliveries of wood pellets procured from Russian producers to customers in Finland and UK.

Uranium One performs its activity in full compliance with international standards. In 2019, Uranium One passed international certification proving the quality and origin of the biomass material.