Press Release: BerylliUM Joint Venture established by Ulba Metallurgical Plant and Moscow Nonferrous Metals Processing Plant

12th September 2002, OJSC Ulba Metallurgical Plant (OJSC 'UMP'), National Atomic Company Kazatomprom's subsidiary (90%), city of Ust-Kamenogorsk, and OJSC Moscow Nonferrous Metals Processing Plant (OJSC MZOCM) established JV OJSC BerylliUM.

The joint venture has been founded in order to increase sales volume of copper beryllium rolled product in the Russian market. Shares of the founders are equal - 50% to 50%. Such cooperation should be mutually beneficial for the Russian and Kazakhstan facilities and promote further integration between the countries.

OJSC UMP will produce copper beryllium billets for rolling, and OJSC MZOCM will manufacture copper beryllium flat rolled products. Copper beryllium flat rolled products have wide application in high-tech industries such as electronics, appliances and electrical industry. Current rapid growth of these industries in various regions of Russia will support the commercial success of the project.

OJSC UMP beryllium plant is the second world producer of beryllium products which has a complete cycle of processing from ore concentrate to beryllium metal and its alloys. OJSC MZOCM has many years' experience of manufacturing nonferrous metal and alloy rolled products.