New Uranium Mining Projects - Uzbekistan 
(last updated 6 Oct 2011)
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In Uzbekistan, uranium prospection and/or exploration is being performed by
Areva,
Navoi Mining and Milling Complex,
Uran Ltd 
,
Korea Resources Corporation ,
Mitsui & Co, Ltd. (planned)
Uzbek-Chinese joint venture plans to start uranium mining in Navoi region
The Uzbek-Chinese joint venture Uz-China Uran plans to start black shale uranium mining in the Navoi region, Uzbekistan by early 2013, State Committee for Geology and Mineral Resources Acting Chairman Ilhom Turamuradov said on Thursday (Oct. 6).
He said the actions will be coordinated to develop technologies of separate extracting uranium and vanadium while developing black shale uranium deposits by late 2011.
"The technological tests are planned to be made in 2012," he said. "This will allow beginning the development black shale deposits in 2013."
(Trend, Oct. 6, 2011)
Uzbekistan seeks joint uranium-producing project with China
Uzbekistan plans to attract Chinese companies to uranium production projects on its territory, the Prime news agency said on Friday (Aug. 19).
The cooperation plan was approved in April. Uzbekistan's Geology and Mineral Resources Committee is currently preparing a list of possible uranium deposits.
In August 2009, China's CGNPC Uranium Resources Co and Uzbekistan's Geology and Mineral Resources Committee set up the Uz-China Uran joint venture on a parity basis, with a charter capital of $4.6 million to prospect for uranium in the Kyzyl Kum Desert.
(RIA Novosti Aug. 19, 2011)
China, Uzbekistan sign agreement on uranium cooperation
The presidents of China and Uzbekistan have signed deals to increase cooperation in areas including energy.
According to Uzbek president Islam Karimov, long-term cooperation in the field of uranium is a particular area for cooperation.
Uzbekistan's uranium mining industry dates back to the 1950s, with "explored and estimated uranium reserves" of 185,800 tonnes according to the country's State Committee for Geology and Mineral Resources (Goskomgeo) in 2008. Prior to 1992, all uranium mined and milled in the country was shipped to Russia, but since 1992 all Uzbekistan's uranium production has been exported to the USA and other countries through Nukem Inc.
(World Nuclear News June 10, 2010)
Negotiations on Russia-Uzbek joint uranium mining venture have folded
A spokesman for Russia's AtomRedMetzoloto (ARMZ) has confirmed that Russia has withdrawn from negotiations on setting up a uranium mining joint venture with Uzbekistan.
A memorandum of understanding on a joint venture to mine Uzbekistan's Aktau uranium deposit was signed by the two countries in January 2006, but the parties failed to reach a suitable agreement.
(World Nuclear News June 10, 2010)
Uzbekistan plans to auction seven uranium deposits
Uzbek authorities plan to hold open auctions for the development of seven uranium deposits located in the country. Tenders will probably be ready by March 2010.
(New Europe, Sep 20, 2009)
Uzbekistan, Japan conclude agreement on joint uranium exploration
On June 15, 2009, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) and Uzbek State Committee for Geology and Mineral Resources (GOSCOMGEOLOGY) concluded an agreement on the joint exploration for uranium in Uzbekistan.
This project is based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between JOGMEC and
GOSCOMGEOLOGY on April 28, 2007.
The target area of this project is in the Navoi region and consists of three mining properties. Drilling work will begin from September 2009, spending approximately US$500,000; it is intended to compile the result of the survey by March 2010.
(JOGMEC June 16, 2009)
Uzbekistan plans to develop seven new uranium deposits to achieve 50% production increase by 2012
Uzbekistan's export operator the Navoiisky mining and smelting plant (NGMK) plans to put into operation seven new uranium deposits, the NGMK general director said on Jan. 13, 2009.
Kuvandik Sanakulov said the uranium production and enrichment monopoly was conducting geological prospecting work at five of the seven deposits.
"As part of an increase in uranium production up to 2012, the expansion and reconstruction of sulfuric production, at a cost of about $12 million, will be carried out. The implementation of the program will make it possible to increase uranium production in 2012 by 50%," Sanakulov said.
(RIA Novosti Jan. 13, 2009)
Japanese Sojitz Corp. signs accord to explore for uranium in Uzbekistan
On Oct. 9, 2008, Japanese trading house Sojitz Corp and Uzbekistan agreed to look into forming a joint venture to explore for uranium in the Central Asian country.
Sojitz was granted exclusive negotiating rights for 18 months with the government for the development of the Chetbertoye mine, about 350 kilometres west of Tashkent, the trading house said in a statement.
If a final agreement is reached, the joint venture plans to explore for underground resources after acquiring the proper license, as well export and sell to overseas electric power companies all uranium produced.
(Reuters Oct. 9, 2008)
Mitsui to conduct joint uranium exploration in Uzbekistan
Mitsui & Co Ltd announced that it has signed a protocol of intent with State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Geology and Mineral Resources with a view to investigating the possibility of establishing a joint venture to carry out geological exploration works for black shale type uranium in Uzbekistan.
Following the signing of this document, Mitsui & Co has been entitled by GOSCOMGEOLOGY the right to exclusive negotiation for 18 months. It will proceed with in depth discussions on the terms and conditions of joint exploration, establishment of a joint venture company and performance of exploration works. The subject area selected for joint study is Zapadno-Kokpatasskaya Area potential for black shale type uranium, located 300 kilometers northwest of Navoi.
(SteelGuru Aug. 8, 2008)
South Korea to purchase 2,600 tons of uranium from Uzbekistan
South Korea signed a contract on May 12, 2008, to purchase 2,600 tons of uranium worth 400 million U.S. dollars from Uzbekistan between 2010 and 2016, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.
South Korea consumes about 4,000 tons of uranium each year. It has been importing uranium mostly from Australia, Canada, Kazakhstan, the United States and France, Yonhap said.
(People's Daily May 12, 2008))
South Korea signs deal with Uzbekistan for uranium deliveries
According to official Uzbek news agency UzA, the Uzbek and South Korean prime ministers have signed an agreement to ship Uzbek uranium ore concentrate to South Korea. According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, the deal envisages that South Korea directly imports from Uzbekistan 300 tons of uranium per year between 2010 and 2014, while South Korea so far buys Uzbek uranium indirectly from U.S. companies.
(Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Sep. 25, 2006)
Japan and Uzbekistan sign agreement for development of uranium industry
Japan and Uzbekistan have signed an agreement aimed at financing the
development of the uranium industry in the central Asian country.
The agreement was signed between the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Uzbekistan's Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade. The Japan Atomic Industrial Forum said the agreement was aimed at "expanding support" to the Uzbek uranium industry.
(NucNet 20 Sep 2006)
Uzbekistan will start supplying low-enriched [???] uranium for Japanese power stations in 2007, according to Nikolai Kucherskii, the director of the state-owned Navoi mining complex. About 300 tons of low-enriched uranium will be exported in 2007 to Japan via trading company Itochu Corp. (AP Nov. 3, 2006)
Korea Resources forms uranium joint venture in Uzbekistan
Korea Resources Corporation together with Goskomgeologiya (State Committee of Geology) agreed on the creation of a joint venture for the industrial development of the Dzhantuar uranium deposit, located in the center section of the desert Kyzyl Kum (Navoiyskaya region) and containing 7,154 t U and 19,000 t vanadium.
(GAZETA.KZ 8 Sep 2006)
Cogéma quits Sugraly project?
Cogéma has quit from a project with Navoi Mining & Metallurgical Complex (NMMC) to develop the Sugraly uranium deposit (38,000 tU, 44,813 tonnes U3O8), according to Kabar news agency. NMMC will start the project alone in October 2001. (WNA News Briefing 01.33, August 15, 2001)
However, Cogema said that it did not 'opt out' of the project in mid-2001. It made a positive field investigation of the project in 1988, but subsequent discussions with the Combinat (Navoi) 'did not lead to an agreement' and Cogema has had 'no further involvement with the project since the end of 1999'. (WNA News Briefing 01.40, Oct. 3, 2001)
Cogéma conducts feasibility study for Sugraly deposit
Cogéma, together with Duzbek Navoi, is conducting a feasibility study for the eventual exploitation of the Sugraly deposit (Les Echos 15 Oct 1998).
The deposit had been exploited by underground and in-situ leach mining between 1977 and 1994.