Kuvandik Sanakulov said the uranium production and enrichment monopoly was conducting geological prospecting work at five of the seven deposits, RIA Novosti reported.

"As part of an increase in uranium production up to 2012, the expansion and reconstruction of sulfuric production, at a cost of about US$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.

According to data by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Uzbekistan is ranked seventh in the world in terms of uranium reserves and fifth in terms of its production.