Reuters reported that Kazakhstan boosted uranium production by 9 percent to 9,148 tonnes in the H1 of 2011 affirming its place as the world's top producer of the metal.

Kazatompom's share in the Central Asian nation's total uranium output stood at 5,235 tonnes in the first 6 months of this year. It expected H1 consolidated revenue of KZT 144.86 billion up 37% YoY.

Preliminary data showed that its net profit had risen 63% to KZT 30.37 billion. Kazakhstan holds the world's second largest uranium reserves but has no nuclear power stations of its own and does not use any uranium by products.

Kazatomprom has said that it will proceed with plans to boost uranium output despite Japan's nuclear crisis. Kazakhstan, holding more than 15% of global uranium reserves, produced 17,803 tonnes of the metal in 2010 after surpassing Canada a year earlier as the world's largest producer.

It said that Kazakhstan would produce 10,130 tonnes of uranium in the H2 of 2011 bringing annual output to 19,278 tonnes.

(Sourced from Reuters)