Uranium Mining and Processing in Kyrgyzstan

The JSC Kara Baltinski Ore Mining & Processing Combine (KMPC) has most recently been processing and calcining uranium product from Kazakhstan's Zarechnoye joint venture at the refurbished Kara Balta mill. Uranium dioxide is apparently the product. The Kyrgyz government holds a 0.66% share in that JV. It accepted a tender from UralPlatina Holdings, a subsidiary of Russian resources investment group, Renova, for its 72.28% stake in the Kara Baltinski company in March 2007. The €1.8 million price was less than half the earlier asking price, but it ended a four-year shutdown. The company, now apparently the Kara Balta Mining Enterprise (KGRK), struck an agreement in October 2008 with the Kazakh-based Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) to provide $150 million to develop the mill and properly emplace 50 years of tailings accumulation at Kara Balta. At the time the tailings were thought to contain up to 11,000 tU. However, they are very heterogeneous, posing a major metallurgical challenge.

Kara Balta then contracted with Russian-Kazakh Zarechnoye JV and Kazatomprom in Kazakhstan for toll milling. The mill resumed uranium production in August 2007 and has increased annual production from about 800 tonnes of uranium to 2574 tU in 2009, exceeding for the first time historic output levels. In 2013 it produced 948 tU and in 2014, 1945 tU. This production is all counted as Kazakh. About 930 tU/yr comes from Zarechnoye JV, 400 km west. In July 2014 KGRK sought 2500-3000 tonnes of concentrate from Kazakhstan, but only 1500 tonnes was agreed by the Kazakh government.

KGRK was continuing to invest in its plant, and was aiming for 3500 tU/yr capacity. Further plans involve re-treatment and disposal of its own tailings on site. 

Early in 2013 KMPC was considering embarking upon mining in Kazakhstan, possibly in joint venture with Kazatomprom, or directly purchasing feed and selling the product to Russia, rather than toll milling. 

The company also was considering mining the Sary-Jaz group of deposits at Berkutsky, Schastlivy and Muzbulak projects. The prospective Kamyshanovskoye and Serafimovskoye deposits were also mentioned, with priority for exploration at Kyzyl-Ompul (Azarga Uranium holds a 424 sq km lease there).

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