Kazakhstan, Romania in talks on decade-long uranium supply deal

Kazakhstan’s state-owned uranium giant Kazatomprom is negotiating a ten-year uranium supply contract with Romania, in a move to strengthen bilateral energy ties and deepen cooperation in nuclear and high-tech sectors.

The Kazakhstani National Atomic Company, Kazatomprom, is looking to expand its uranium exports to Europe. The company has held talks with Romania’s state-owned SN Nuclearelectrica, aiming to strengthen energy ties between the two countries. 

Talks between Kazakhstan’s National Atomic Company, Kazatomprom, Romania’s Ministry of Energy, and the country’s nuclear energy producer SN Nuclearelectrica, focused on two key areas: increasing uranium supply and potential collaboration in the beryllium industry.
At the heart of the discussion was a proposed ten-year contract that would secure a steady supply of Kazakhstani uranium to Romania. The fuel would support both existing reactors and future nuclear energy developments. However, specific figures and volumes of this contract have not been disclosed.
Kazatomprom believes that a long-term supply deal would help cement strategic ties with Romania and ensure a reliable source of nuclear fuel - critical as Romania looks to expand its energy independence and reduce reliance on external sources.
In addition to uranium, both countries are also eyeing cooperation in the beryllium sector. This rare metal is a key material in high-precision industries, particularly nuclear and aerospace. Romanian representatives voiced strong interest in scientific and technical collaboration with the Ulba Metallurgical Plant in Oskemen, a major Kazakh producer of beryllium products.
They also discussed the possibility of processing beryllium from Romanian deposits, potentially creating a new pipeline for European-sourced raw materials to be developed with Kazakh expertise.
According to Casiana Niculescu, Secretary of State at Romania’s Ministry of Energy, securing uranium supply from Kazakhstan is not just a commercial agreement, it’s a strategic move. He said the deal would provide Romania with energy security and help diversify fuel sources amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and global market pressures.
Uranium is one of the main natural resources of Kazakhstan. The country ranks first in the world in terms of its production and second in terms of reserves. Kazatomprom’s latest annual report shows the company produced 12.3 thousand tons of uranium in 2024, based on its share in joint ventures a 10 percent increase compared to the previous year. The largest buyers remain China, Russia, the United States, and France.

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