Japan's official representative confirmed Itochu's intention to buy 3 th. tons of uranium from Kazakhstan

/INTERFAX-KAZAKHSTAN, Astana, November 21, 05/ - Tetsukhiro Khosono General director of natural resources and energy policy agency of Japan ministry of economy, industry and trade (MEIT) confirmed Itochu's intention to buy 3 th. tons of uranium from Kazakhstan's national atomic company Kazatomprom. In the end of September Itochu agreed about purchasing of uranium from Kazatomprom within the nearest 10 years. "Itochu really plans to buy in Kazakhstan 3 th. tons of uranium", - Khosono said at the press-conference in Astana. He says Japan's companies are ready not only import uranium from Kazakhstan, but also take part in joint ventures on exploration and development of uranium fields on the country's territory. "Japan's all trade companies without exclusion, which provide electric power stations with fuel, are interested in exploration and development projects", - he said. Official negotiations of Japan's delegation with representatives of Kazakhstan's ministry of economy and mineral resources and Kazatomprom were, in Khosono's opinion, fruitful. "We have coordinated general direction of our cooperation", - he said. He says, Japan and Kazakhstan agreed to continue consultations on intergovernmental level "with the purpose of promotion of specific projects in the sphere of uranium fields development". Khasono has not called Japan companies, interested in foundation of joint ventures on uranium extraction in Kazakhstan, as well as the planned volume of investments into the republic's economy. Bloomberg agency before said Kazatomprom planned to found joint ventures with Japan companies Sumitomo Corp. and Kansai Electric Power Co. With the purpose of extraction and processing of uranium ore in Kazakhstan. [2005-11-22]