ASTANA, February 7 (RIA Novosti) - The prime minister of Kazakhstan called Tuesday for the country to become one of the world's top uranium producers.

Speaking at a Cabinet session, Daniyal Ahmetov said: "Kazakhstan possesses 25% of the world's uranium reserves, and we [Kazakhstan] could become one of world's largest uranium powers."

The former Soviet country is already a key oil producer and has enjoyed dynamic growth in recent years on the back of high crude prices. The production of the radioactive element, which is used in nuclear power plants, could prove another profitable avenue for the Central Asian republic.

"We need cooperation projects, primarily with Russia, on developing of uranium deposits," he said, adding that the country had already had its own projects.

Neighboring Russia has an extensive network of nuclear power plants and the head of the agency overseeing the industry recently called for a greater role for nuclear energy in the country.