KAZATOMPROM DELAYS20 May 2025 10:17
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Kazatomprom delays pressure uranium outlook
In further positive news, Kazakhstan’s Budenovskoye uranium project, a joint venture between Kazatomprom (51%) and Russia’s Rosatom (49%), is experiencing significant delays, raising concerns about global uranium supply.
Initially, production from sections 6 and 7 was projected to reach 2,500 tonnes in 2024, with plans to scale up to 6,000 tonnes by 2026.
However, recent reports indicate 2024 production is now expected to be only 500 tonnes, with the 6,000-tonne target postponed to 2027.
The delays are attributed to a combination of factors, including disputes among shareholders over contractor selection, shortages of sulphuric acid essential for uranium extraction, and construction setbacks at the site.
These issues have led Kazatomprom to revise its 2025 production forecast downward by -17%, from an initial estimate of 30,500-31,500 tonnes to a range of 25,000-26,500 tonnes.