Macron Visiting Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for Uranium Supply Talks — Bloomberg
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to travel to Central Asia this week for visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, two major suppliers of uranium for France’s nuclear reactors. The purpose of the trip is to enhance France’s energy security and decrease its reliance on Russian fossil fuels, which the European bloc has been trying to diversify away from.
According to Bloomberg, which cites anonymous sources familiar with Macron’s thinking, there is another motive behind the trip. France aims to tempt the former Soviet republics in Central Asia to reduce their dependence on Russia. The ongoing war in Ukraine has disrupted long-established relationships in the region, creating an opportunity for France to strengthen its ties.
Central Asia is rich in reserves of oil, gas, and minerals, making it a strategically important region for global influence. China has been extending its reach through President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road infrastructure project, while the United States seeks to bolster its political presence. The European Union is working towards establishing a trade and energy corridor through the Caucasus to Europe, bypassing Russia.
France already has significant investments in Central Asia, particularly in Kazakhstan. French nuclear company Orano SA, previously known as Areva, operates uranium deposits in Kazakhstan through a joint venture with state-owned Kazatomprom. Macron’s visit will involve discussions on further deepening Orano’s presence in the region.
The urgency for France’s pursuit of uranium has increased after a coup in Niger earlier this year. Niger was the European Union’s second-largest source of raw uranium after Kazakhstan. However, due to international sanctions against the military junta, Orano had to halt uranium processing at one of its facilities in Niger.
“Kazakhstan is key to France’s energy security,” said Michael Levystone, a researcher at the French Institute of International Relations. Macron’s visit will serve as a reminder of France’s willingness to enhance cooperation in this vital sector.
Besides being the top supplier of uranium to France, Kazakhstan was also its second-largest source of crude oil last year, according to the French economy ministry’s figures. The trip is expected to strengthen economic ties and energy partnerships between France and Central Asia, further diversifying France’s energy sources.
