As part of Moscow's non-proliferation initiative to create a global network of enrichment centers under the UN nuclear watchdog's supervision, Russia and Kazakhstan have already opened a joint uranium enrichment center in Siberia.
"We will lay the basis for the joint development of uranium fields in Kazakhstan, as well as joint uranium enrichment and the production of nuclear fuel," Nursultan Nazarbayev said following Moscow talks with Vladimir Putin.
Putin said the government had discussed projects to set up more nuclear centers for uranium enrichment. Kazakhstan confirmed its intention to join the initiative, and invited other countries to follow suit.
"Other countries interested in developing their civilian nuclear sector can join [the project]," Nazarbayev said.
Last October, Russia and Kazakhstan opened their first joint venture to enrich uranium in Angarsk, East Siberia. The venture will also be responsible for the disposal of nuclear waste.
Kazakhstan is expanding its mining sector and aims to achieve annual production of 15,000 tons of uranium by 2010. Under the Soviet system, Russia and Kazakhstan shared a nuclear power infrastructure under the Ministry of Medium Machine Building.
Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said Monday a delegation of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, would visit the Angarsk center Tuesday.
He said the visit would be the first step towards the implementation of Putin's initiative to create a uranium-enrichment network, which he formulated in May as a way of calming international tensions over Iran's nuclear problem. Putin made the announcement at about the same time when the U.S. came up with a similar initiative.
