Japan relies on nuclear power for nearly a quarter of its electricity and plans to increase production as part of plans to cut carbon emissions to combat climate change
– By April Murelio –
According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Japan and Kazakhstan this week signed a deal aimed at increasing bilateral civilian nuclear cooperation and which enables Japan to secure a stable supply of uranium from the world’s second-largest holder of uranium reserves.
During the negotiation process, Kazakhstan also inked an international convention for suppressing nuclear terrorism at Japan’s urging, the ministry said.
Japanese utility Kansai Electric Power Co, trading house Sumitomo Corp and Tokyo-based Nuclear Fuel Industries Ltd signed the accord with Kazakh state uranium company Kazatomprom on converting uranium products into components of nuclear fuel rods.
Japan relies on nuclear power for about a quarter of its electricity and plans to increase production as part of plans to cut carbon emissions to fight climate change.
Kazakhstan, the world’s leading producer of uranium, plans to produce 18,000 tons of uranium in 2010, Kazatomprom said. In 2009, the country produced 13,800 tons of uranium, up from 8,521 tons in 2008.
Resource scarce Japan, has world's second largest economy and highly advanced technology, while mineral rich Kazakhstan, has a growing economy. Kazakhstan also has an expanding share of the global uranium market. Japan is the world's third largest importer of uranium but currently imports only one percent of its uranium from Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan possesses the world's second largest reserves of uranium.