Uzbekistan and Japanese companies signed over US$ 1 billion worth of uranium supply contracts as part of the December visit of the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Japan.
The largest deal of US$ 636.4 million was signed with Itochu, while US$ 510.1 million deal with Marubeni. The uranium will be supplied by the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Complex (NMMC) in the period between 2023 to 2030.
Earlier in 2017, Uzbekistan signed a US$ 300 million worth of seven-year uranium supply contract with the United States. In 2019, a long-term contract for the export of Uzbek uranium was signed with India.
Uzbekistan is one of the world leaders in uranium reserves and ranks 7th in its production. NMMC is the only operator in Uzbekistan that produces uranium and finished products for export.