Celebration of Day of Nuclear Industry Workers

26.09.2008
September 28th, 2008, will see the Day of Nuclear Industry Workers officially celebrated, in Kazakhstan, for the first time: the Decree on institution of the professional holiday have been signed by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev on May 12, 2008, pursuant to Article 4 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated December 13, 2001, “Regarding holidays in the Republic of Kazakhstan”. The Nuclear Power, Nuclear Industry and Allied Industries Workers Union, representing the interest of over 30 thousand members, put forward the initiative, instituting the holiday, to the Parliament and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the new professional holiday appearing in the Kazakhstan calendar speaks volumes for the important role of the nuclear industry in the economic development of the country.

 

September 28th is not a randomly chosen date - on this day in 1941 the USSR State Defense Committee issued an order “For management of uranium works” and approved the foundation of a special atomic nucleus laboratory under the Academy of Science.

To take a look at the history of the national nuclear industry, please refer to the following websites:

www.memr.gov.kz

www.kazatomprom.kz

The premiere of “Atomic weight” documentary film for the Khabar TV channel has been timed to coincide with Nuclear Industry Workers Day.

Facts and figures of the Nuclear Industry of Kazakhstan

• The mass prospecting of uranium was begun on the territory of Kazakhstan as far back as the Second World War era – the relevant decree of the State Defense Committee of the USSR having been dated 1944.
• The first uranium deposit in Kazakhstan - Kurdai was discovered in 1951.
• From 1953 to 1999 102 thousand tons of U308 was produced in the republic.
• Kazakhstan is the second country in the world, after Australia, in terms of proven uranium reserves (over 1,5 million ton).
• Four uranium processing mills operating on the territory of the republic accounted for 30% of all-union capacities.
• During the soviet period the Ulba Metallurgical Plant covered 85% of the Union’s need in fuel pellets for NPPs. 
• 40 thousand linear meters per month - the efficiency record, among USSR geological exploration associations, achieved by drillers of domestic company “Volkovgeology”.  
• In 1980-1982 the number of employees at nuclear industry enterprises topped 70 thousand.
• The first, in the world, pilot-commercial fast breeder reactor BN-350, commissioned in 1972, in Aktau, was operated trouble-free for more than 20 years - supplying the city with electric energy and distillated water. 
• From 1992 Russia was refused the order for kazakhstani natural uranium.
• 12 million dollars – the wage arrears of nuclear sector enterprises as of September 1998. The debt to banks and to other financial institutions exceeded 44 million dollars, tax and extra-budgetary fund liabilities were 20 million dollars. 
• Kazakhstan has been a fully-fledged member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since 1994.
• IAEA recognizes the in-situ leaching technique improved by Kazakh scientists as the safest method of uranium production including ecological safety.
• The existent in-situ leaching mine can be controlled by one operator.
• As of today there are more than 25 thousand employees in the National atomic company “Kazatomprom”.
• JSC “Volkovgeology” (a subsidiary of Kazatomprom) plans to drill 1,700,000 linear meters in 2008.    
• At present the total average daily U308 output of Kazatomprom subsidiaries and joint ventures is 24 tons.
• Kazatomprom intends to reach an annual production level of 15 thousand tons by 2010 which will allow Kazakhstan to be the world leader in uranium production.
• Consolidated net profit of Kazatomprom for 2007 was more than 35 billion tenge, assignments to budget (only with respect to income tax) exceeded 15 billion tenge.
• 6 billion tenge – the amount allocated by specialized social company “Kazatomprom-Demeu,” from the time of its foundation in 2004, for financing of social & infrastructure projects in different regions of Kazakhstan.
• In pursuance with state policy, for business social responsibility, Kazatomprom assumed voluntary obligations to improve the life quality of the Kazakhstan population.
• In October, 2007, the historic deal of Kazatomprom’s purchase of a 10% share in  Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, the leader at the market of reactor construction,  was copleted.
• Up to 17% of world conversion capacities will be provided by a Joint Venture on the basis of the Ulba Metallurgical Plant formed by Kazatomprom and Canadian Cameco in June, 2008. 
• French Areva will take part in modernization of UMP facilities for fabrication of fuel assemblies being the end product of the nuclear fuel cycle. The relevant agreement was executed in June, 2008. 
• In July, 2008, Kazatomprom completed arrangements for the formation of a transnational vertically integrated company with full nuclear fuel cycle available.   

The nuclear sector of Kazakhstan reorganized as the Kazatomprom National Company has rapidly overcome the after-effects of the crisis that occurred at the end of last century and beginning from 2000 has seen a steadily increasing rate of growth. As of today the nuclear industry is one of the most technological, knowledge intensive and profitable industries in the republic. With its gained operational potential and distinct vision of perspectives, based on domestic and adopted techniques, Kazatomprom will be able to set up in the next 5-7 years manufacture of uranium higher value added products and to gain a foothold in the world market, as a key player, having  interests in virtually  all segments except processing of irradiated fuel and radioactive waste disposal. The successes of the nuclear industry are evidence of the achievements of independent Kazakhstan and its striving to take a prominent position in a future where the nuclear industry is fated to play a key role.

Note

KAZATOMPROM is the national operator of Kazakhstan for the export of uranium and its compounds, rare metals, nuclear fuel for NPPs, special-purpose equipment, technologies and dual-purpose materials. 100% of Kazatomprom’s shares belong to the Government represented by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan . Kazatomprom represents a holding managing core activities: geology exploration, production of uranium, nuclear fuel cycle products, construction of reactors, NPPs, non-ferrous metallurgy and construction materials, energy, scientific support of production, personnel training and social support. More than 25 000 people work for the Company with Kazatomprom, today, being among the world's leading uranium producers.