NAC Kazatomprom calls the world producers and consumers of uranium to increase prices
13.06.03 00:00
/Kazakhstan today, June 13, 03/ - The unexampled low level of prices for
uranium raw stuff for atomic power stations may become the reason of
instability of the branch in the future. This opinion was expressed by the
president of NAC Kazatomprom CJSC Mukhtar Jakishev during his speech at
the held in Boston (USA) 30ieth annual international conference of atomic
power engineering, which was held by the association "The world nuclear fuel
market" (WNFM), press-service of Kazatomprom CJSC informs.
The existing uranium reserves, which were accumulated during the time of "
the cold war" and directed after its ending to the civil market, have provoked
the sharp decrease of uranium raw stuff, Jakishev noted. However as
warehouse reserves will be being spent, in the foreseeable future, roughly by
2010, there will be shortage of uranium, and the prices in the market will
depend more and more on cost of its production.
Meanwhile already today the uranium industry requires additional investments
for search of new deposits, building of new mines, updating of the material
base. However it's very difficult for uranium extracting companies to attract
investments for they are not sufficiently profitable and unstable in connection
with sharp fluctuations of prices at the market.
For Kazatomprom the future deficit of uranium and increase of its price, as for
uranium extracting company, is rather attracting. However the company is
interested, first of all, in development of stable and predictable market
because it's profitable for the whole branch and for the company as well.
As Jakishev thinks, increasing of prices at the world market of uranium may
be the solution of this task, at that, buyers should understand that increasing
of prices is necessary in their interests, because it guarantees stability in
raw stuff supplying for their productions.
[2003-06-13]