CGN, Kazakh nuclear firm sign uranium pact

China General Nuclear Power Group has signed a deal with Kazakhstan's government-owned Kazatomprom for the joint exploration of uranium for nuclear fuel, a step that will help Chinese nuclear companies become self-sufficient in the fuel cycle.

The strategic agreement was signed during Premier Li Keqiang's meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Karim Masimov on Monday.

CGN, the country's largest nuclear plant operator in terms of installed capacity, plans to set up a joint venture in Kazakhstan to produce nuclear fuel assemblies, which will ensure sufficient fuel supplies as Chinese nuclear companies seek to go global, CGN said in a statement.