Kazatomprom secures six-year exploration rights to Kyzyltu uranium block

September 25, 2026 at 01:47 PM2 min

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Kazakhstan's state uranium producer Kazatomprom has secured six-year exploration rights to the Kyzyltu block in the Kyzylorda region, with preliminary resources estimated at around 10,000 metric tons. The company announced the license on September 21 and said geological exploration would begin shortly to determine commercial potential. Kazakhstan remains the world's largest uranium producer, accounting for roughly 40% of global mine production.

Key Facts

Kazatomprom announced the exploration license for the Kyzyltu block on September 21.
Preliminary resources at Kyzyltu are estimated at around 10,000 metric tons of uranium.
Kazatomprom reported output of 25,839 metric tons in 2025 on a 100% basis, including partners' shares.
Kazakhstan accounts for roughly 40% of global uranium mine production.
In March, Kazatomprom outlined six prospective exploration areas covering more than 1,000 square kilometers, with planned exploration spending through 2030 of $155 million to $176 million.

Kyzyltu Exploration License

Kazakhstan granted Kazatomprom six-year exploration rights to the Kyzyltu block in the Kyzylorda region. Preliminary resources at the block are estimated at around 10,000 metric tons of uranium. Kazatomprom announced the license on September 21 and said geological exploration would begin shortly to determine the block's commercial potential.

Resource Base Expansion

The new exploration rights follow a wider effort by Kazatomprom to replenish its resource base. In March, the company outlined six prospective exploration areas covering more than 1,000 square kilometers, with planned exploration spending through 2030 of $155 million to $176 million. Kazatomprom is also pursuing longer-term supply agreements with overseas buyers.

Global Uranium Market Outlook

An August outlook from Bloomberg Intelligence expects Kazatomprom and Canada's Cameco to provide much of the increase in global uranium mine production during the remainder of this decade. Bloomberg estimates mined supply could rise 23% from 2025 levels to around 193 million pounds of U₃O₈ annually during 2028–2031. It estimates Kazatomprom could reach around 80 million pounds of U₃O₈ annually if sufficient sulfuric acid is available. In this base scenario, the uranium market could remain in surplus through 2031 before moving into deficit from 2032, as demand rises and depletion of low-cost reserves in Kazakhstan and Canada constrains supply. China is the largest near-term source of additional demand, accounting for 45% of nuclear capacity currently under construction or planned and has set a target of 110 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2030.