Several Japanese companies have bought 40% of the Kharasan uranium mine project in Kazakhstan, entitling them to that share of production which is expected to reach 5000 tonnes uranium/year by about 2014.

When Toshiba recently agreed to sell part of Westinghouse to Kazatomprom,
it agreed to buy 9% of Kharasan from Marubeni (22.5% of the Japanese stake). Production is expected to start in the first quarter of next year.

This deal will secure 450 tonnes uranium/year for Toshiba and Westinghouse as well as linking both more closely with evolving Kazakh plans to move from supplying uranium alone to selling fabricated nuclear fuel.

- Information sourced from the Australian Uranium Association Weekly Digest news