AREVA and Kazatomprom strengthen their partnership in the front-end nuclear cycle

This new agreement emphasizes the intention of both companies to strengthen their strategic partnership in the field of front-end nuclear cycle.
The new company owned 51 % by Kazatomprom and 49 % by AREVA, is to build a new fuel assembly manufacturing line based on the AREVA design for the Ulba facility, located in Ust-Kamenogorsk in the East of Kazakhstan. Thenewplant with 400-ton annualcapacityisscheduledtostartoperatingin 2014.
The joint-venture IFASTAR established by two partners last year will carry out marketing of the products for Asian power operators.
After the ceremony of signing Anne Lauvergeon has noted: “This agreement demonstrates AREVA’s strategy aimed at insuring reliability of supplies for the clients and strengthening of our position in the global fuel market.
Vladimir Shkolnik pointed out: “Kazatomprom is consistent with implementation of its program to build up a vertically integrated company with complete nuclear fuel cycle, and this agreement with AREVA is another important step in implementation of this strategy”.

AREVA supplies solutions for carbon-free power generation. Its expertise and know-how in this field are setting the standard, and its responsible development is anchored in a process of continuous improvement.
As the global nuclear industry leader, AREVA’s unique integrated offer to utilities covers every stage of the fuel cycle, nuclear reactor design and construction, and related services. The group is also expanding considerably in renewable energies – wind, solar, bioenergies, hydrogen and storage – to be one of the top three in this sector worldwide in 2012.
Every day, AREVA’s 48,000 employees cultivate the synergies between these two major carbon-free offers, helping to supply safer, cleaner and more economical energy to the greatest number of people.

KAZATOMPROM  is a national operator of the Republic of Kazakhstan for import and export of uranium and its compounds, rare metals, nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants, special equipment, technologies and dual-use materials. The Company’s main activities include geological exploration, uranium production, output of nuclear fuel cycle products, construction of reactors and nuclear power plants, non-ferrous metallurgy and production of construction materials, power industry, science, social welfare and personnel training. At present, over 26,000 people are employed by the Company. Kazatomprom is one of the top uranium world producers.