Kazakhstan's state-owned nuclear fuel company, Kazatomprom, will form a joint venture with Chinese companies to build nuclear power plants in China, Kazatomprom's chief executive said Thursday.
CEO Mukhtar Dzhakishev told reporters his company wants to gain experience by participating in the construction.
He said Kazatomprom's participation would be in exchange for stakes in uranium mines in Kazakhstan.
Dzhakishev said that final arrangements between Kazakh and Chinese nuclear companies are being determined.
In July, Dzhakishev said that Kazakhstan planned to boost its uranium production in 2009 to 12,826 metric tons and possibly become the world's largest uranium producer. This year's uranium output is expected to exceed 9,000 tons, up from 6,637 tons last year.
Dzhakishev said Thursday that earlier announced production plans were still in place.
Kazakhstan aims to raise its annual output of uranium to more than 18,000 tons by 2010 and become one of the prominent players in the global nuclear fuel market.