Russia and Kazakhstan in the Global Nuclear Energy Sector: From Uranium Mining to Energy Diplomacy

Key Chapter Title List

1. Introduction
2. Kazakhstan's Uranium Industry
3. Russia's Nuclear Industry
4. Rosatom's Overseas Business Portfolio and Nuclear Energy Diplomacy
5. Conclusion

Document Introduction

Against the backdrop of intensifying global geopolitical competition and the parallel low-carbon energy transition, China and numerous Global South countries view nuclear energy as a secure, low-emission alternative to fossil fuels. They are increasing investments in the nuclear power sector, driving the continuous evolution of the global nuclear energy market landscape. This report focuses on the core positions of Russia and Kazakhstan within the global nuclear industry chain. It provides an in-depth analysis of the full-chain operational mechanisms of both countries, from uranium mining, enrichment, and fuel fabrication to technology exports, with a particular emphasis on exploring the political implications of their roles and the potential impact on Western energy security.

As the world's largest producer and exporter of natural uranium, Kazakhstan accounted for 43% of global uranium production in 2022, supplying 20% and 22% of uranium imports for the EU and the US, respectively. While its nuclear industry has grown based on resources and infrastructure inherited from the Soviet era, it remains deeply intertwined with Russia. The national atomic energy company, Kazatomprom, dominates domestic nuclear fuel cycle-related activities, maintaining production capacity through 13 uranium mining projects (including several international joint ventures). Simultaneously, it is actively exploring export routes bypassing Russia (such as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route) and deepening industrial chain cooperation with China.

Russia has become a key player in the nuclear field by leveraging its global export advantages in enriched uranium and nuclear technology. The state atomic energy corporation, Rosatom, controls nearly half of the world's uranium enrichment capacity, operates in 54 countries, and manages numerous nuclear power plant construction projects in non-Western nations. Its vertically integrated industrial structure and flexible business models (including integrated solutions with financing support and spent nuclear fuel management) allow it to stand out in international competition, particularly dominating markets in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Nuclear energy has become a crucial pillar of Russia's energy diplomacy.

The report points out that although the conflict in Ukraine has not directly led to sanctions in the nuclear sector, geopolitical tensions and instability in uranium-producing countries (such as the 2023 coup in Niger) have heightened supply security risks for the West. Many Western countries remain highly dependent on uranium and nuclear fuel supplies from Russia and Kazakhstan. While actively seeking alternative supply routes and fuel solutions, they find it difficult to completely break away from dependence on the Russian-Kazakh industrial chain in the short term.

Through diversified international partnership networks, Russia and Kazakhstan will continue to maintain their core positions in the global nuclear arena. Rosatom's overseas projects are predominantly concentrated in non-Western countries, while Kazakhstan, while maintaining traditional cooperation with Russia, is actively expanding diverse cooperation channels. For the West, a key issue in current energy security strategy formulation is how to balance energy cooperation with Kazakhstan while addressing the potential risks associated with its susceptibility to Russian influence.