By Alimat Aliyeva
National Atomic Company Kazatomprom JSC and Czech energy company
ČEZ, a.s. have signed a long-term contract in Prague for the supply
of natural uranium concentrate from Kazakhstan for use in nuclear
power plants in the Czech Republic, Azernews
reports.
The agreement represents a significant expansion of
Kazatomprom’s presence in the European energy market and reinforces
its position as one of the world’s leading uranium producers.
Under the terms of the deal, over the next seven years, Kazakh
uranium will supply approximately one-third of the uranium required
for the production of Westinghouse fuel assemblies used at the
Temelín Nuclear Power Plant, one of the Czech Republic’s two major
nuclear facilities. This cooperation is expected to enhance the
Czech Republic’s energy security and support the continued
development of nuclear energy as a clean, low-carbon source of
electricity.
CEZ, a.s. is a major energy player in Central Europe and a key
advocate for expanding nuclear energy capacity in the region. The
company is actively working on modernizing its existing nuclear
infrastructure and exploring new reactor technologies to meet
future energy demands and climate targets.
This deal also underscores the growing importance of supply
chain diversification in the global nuclear energy sector. With
geopolitical tensions affecting uranium supplies from traditional
markets, European energy companies are increasingly turning to
Kazakhstan—a country that holds around 12% of the world’s uranium
reserves and has been the world’s top uranium producer for over a
decade.
Kazatomprom, known for its sustainable mining practices and
strategic partnerships, continues to play a pivotal role in the
global shift toward cleaner energy sources. The Czech Republic, in
turn, views this partnership as a step toward reducing dependence
on fossil fuels and ensuring long-term energy resilience.