Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Orano and Navoiyuran have announced the signing of an agreement that lays the foundation for the industrial development of the Southern Djengeldi uranium deposit as part of their joint venture, Nurlikum Mining.

Under the agreement, the Southern Djengeldi project will be integrated into Navoiyuran’s existing production base, which will act as the project operator.

The document also formalizes the entry of a new partner from Japan, ITOCHU Corporation, which has acquired a minority stake in the joint venture.

This new partnership strengthens the latest achievements of the joint venture and reflects the commitment of all parties to further developing the Southern Djengeldi project.

Based on certified resources, the project is expected to sustain uranium production for a decade, with peak annual output reaching 700 metric tons.

The Southern Djengeldi project is part of a broader cooperation program with Navoiyuran, established under a strategic agreement signed by Orano and the Uzbek government in 2022.

The partners will also launch an exploration program aimed at doubling the joint venture’s mineral resources.

Xavier Saint-Martin-Tillet, Senior Executive Vice President for Mining at Orano, stated:
"This project contributes to diversifying the group's uranium supply sources. The new phase has been made possible thanks to the work carried out in Uzbekistan over the past five years. Orano is committed to applying its geological and technical expertise to further advance the project and support the expansion of our operations."