Uranium Competition between Russia, France and China in Kazakhstan in the Post-Soviet Period
( Pp. 193-201)
More about authors
Anastasiia V. Oshchepkova
postgraduate student, School of International Relations, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; Editor-in-Chief, ENERPO Journal; ENERPO Research Center of the European University at St. Petersburg; St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
Saint Petersburg State University
St. Petersburg, Russian Federation ENERPO Research Center of the European University at St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
Saint Petersburg State University
St. Petersburg, Russian Federation ENERPO Research Center of the European University at St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
Abstract:
The article examines uranium competition between Russia, France, and China in Kazakhstan during the post-Soviet period. Kazakhstan is analysed as a key uranium-producing centre in Central Asia and an important element of international nuclear fuel supply chains. The aim of the study is to identify the main features and dynamics of this rivalry, as well as to assess the impact of external factors — sanctions regimes, the crisis of France’s uranium presence in Niger, and the strengthening of China as the largest consumer and investor — on the redistribution of influence in the region. It is shown that uranium competition in Central Asia has a multi-level character and is increasingly less reducible to formal control over deposits. Particular attention is paid to the changes after 2022 associated with sanctions constraints, the crisis of French uranium operations in Niger, and China’s growing role in the region. The decisive factor is the capacity of external actors to sustain supply chain resilience under conditions of regulatory fragmentation and elevated transaction costs. The article systematises the key risks (production-related, political-legal, sanctions-related, and socio-environmental) and substantiates three short-term scenarios for the development of uranium competition in the region.
How to Cite:
Oshchepkova, A.V. (2026). Uranium Competition between Russia, France and China in Kazakhstan in the Post-Soviet Period. History and Modern Perspectives, 8(1), 193-201. 10.33693/2658-4654-2026-8-1-193-201. EDN: ERZLQM
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Knoche P. Approvisionnement en Uranium et Métaux Stratégiques pour le Nucléaire: Dépendance ou Faux Problème? Annales des Mines — Responsabilité & Environnement. 2020. No. 97. Pp. 136–139.
Kunarbekova M.S., Yeszhan Y. et al. The State of the Art of the Mining and Metallurgical Industry in Kazakhstan and Future Perspectives: A Systematic Review.ES Materials & Manufacturing. 2024. DOI: 10.30919/esmm1219.
Massot P. China and the Global Uranium Market: Prospects for Peaceful Coexistence. The Scientific World Journal. 2013. Art. 672060.
Meyer T. Les Dimensions Géopolitiques de la Relance de l’Énergie Nucléaire. La Revue de l’Énergie. 2023. No. 668 (3). Pp. 25–34.
Keywords:
Central Asia, China, France, Kazakhstan, nuclear energy, nuclear fuel cycle, Russia, sanctions, uranium..
