Events 2020

Despite the impact of pandemic, the outgoing year turned out to be rich in production (and not only) events. We offer you a brief excursion and the latest history of the plant.

Science Center

A process for producing titanium beryllide was developed in conjunction with Beryllium Operations. At the 31st international symposium on thermonuclear fusion technology SOFT 2020, the scientific project, the idea of which is to use titanium beryllide in thermonuclear reactors, took the second place.

Uranium Operations

Together with the Scientific Center, a project to dilute highly enriched fuel of pulsed graphite reactor commissioned by the US Department of Energy has been completed. The project was launched in 2015. A unique technology for extracting uranium from graphite blocks was developed. Specialists of the highest qualification were involved in solving complex problems. The team has passed all the working stages of licensing, organization and creation of a technological site for fuel processing. The completion of the project is a significant contribution of the plant to the work of the world community to contain the nuclear threat.

Beryllium Operations

The technology has been debugged and the rhythmic and efficient operation of the remelting section of the furnace and ladle residues of «Viting» furnace has been organized. The result was a significant economic effect in workshop No. 3A. Also, the volume of output was increased and guaranteed production of technical beryllium with increased quality requirements for Chinese consumers was established in workshop No. 1. The output of beryllium bronze products has been increased and the range of its consumers has been expanded.

Tantalum Operations

Commissioning of high-temperature vacuum furnace for the heat treatment of tantalum and niobium modified with yttrium for production of products with improved consumer and operational properties.

Energy Center

Uninterrupted supply of energy resources to consumers has been provided. In this task an overhaul of the pipelines of the heat network of northern industrial site, maintenance of industrial water, recycling, drinking water, heating systems, water supply and wastewater buildings and structures. Dismantling of K-250 turbochargers in building 660 for installation of modern screw compressors, internal outsourcing and construction and installation work on investment activities were carried out.

Legal Department

On May 14, 2020, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan signed the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On Amendments and Additions to certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on civil liability in the field of nuclear Energy Use». The adoption of this law took place, among other things, with the participation of employees of Legal Department in the process of legislative activity. The law will make it possible to implement Kazakhstan's international obligations to comply with provisions of Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage 1997.

Ulba-FA LLP

The act of acceptance into operation of Ulba-FA LLP plant was signed! This will allow us to start justifying transition of investment project to the next stage of the life cycle-the Operation stage. The primary tasks of this stage are the completion of ongoing certification, production line and product, production of the first order for supply of fuel assemblies and design capacity. No less significant events are signing of contract for the supply of Uranium-gadolinium fuel rods with French company Framatome, long-term contract to supply fuel assemblies with Chinese company CGNPC-URC, contract for supply of fuel pellets with UMP JSC and contract for transportation of fuel assemblies with URC-Logistics.

Mashzavod LLP

Completion of construction of Ulba-FA LLP facility. The plant participated in the project by performing complex of works on arrangement of external power networks, outdoor and indoor communication networks, installation of heating, lighting, ventilation, and air conditioning, fire and emergency alarm systems, control systems, SCADA and Control and Communication Systems as well as radiation monitoring system.

Information Technologies Center

The Center actively participated in organization of remote work in terms of configuration and technical support for users. Among the activities performed: preparation of working computers for moving to the home, setting up remote mail, access to the corporate website, providing access to electronic document approval systems and office automation, as well as to 1C program, SAP ERP. In order to ensure smooth operation of services and prevent disruptions in solving operational tasks, employees were involved in work on weekends and worked overtime.

Car Fleet

Organization of delivery of workers to /from work during the pandemic. CF specialists have developed additional schedules for the movement of both buses of UMP JSC and transport of third-party organizations.

The fleet of the rolling stock operation area continues to be updated: a service bus of DAEWOO brand has been purchased. As a part of development strategy, KAMAZ vehicle was purchased and upgraded to meet special requirements.

And one more important event! Foster child AH Sabina Troeglazova in December received her own apartment. But the girl will be able to move in only in August next year by virtue of the law. Up to this point, the collective of AH has unanimously decided to pay the monthly rental price.

Capital Construction & Repair Department

There are two main events in the department – both for investment projects. The first project is UMP JSC. The tailings storage facility. The pond-evaporator (map) No. 5. The second phase». Commissioning of the evaporator pond (map) No. 5 (second stage) allowed solving the problem of Beryllium Operations runoff for a long time. The second project is « SP Building 600. Production of pellets. Technical re-equipment». Technical re-equipment of pellet production has been started since 2017. The completion of this project in the outgoing year will allow UMP to produce up to 400 tons of high-quality Uranium tablets annually.

Standardization and Quality Department

Successful completion of the second supervisory review of the integrated management system, which included the transition of the occupational health and safety management system from OHSAS 18001:2007 standard to its updated version – ISO 45001: 2018. Throughout the year, training was carried out: analysis and updating of management system documentation was carried out; remote training of employees of UMP JSC was organized, including clarification of requirements of the new standard; internal audits of SM were conducted to assess compliance with requirements of ISO 45001:2018. Thanks to the well-coordinated work of the company's divisions, as well as the joint efforts of specialists and external auditors, all the difficulties of the remote examination format were overcome.

Sales Director's Office

This year, a trilateral Kazakh-American contract was concluded and successfully implemented for dilution highly enriched Uranium fuel in order to reduce nuclear threat worldwide.

In the coming days, the most important contracts will be signed both for Uranium Operations and for our entire plant:

– with NAC «Kazatomprom» JSC for the purchase of enriched Uranium product as Uranium hexafluoride, from which UMP JSC will produce fuel pellet designed by Framatome for Ulba-FA LLP.

– with Ulba-FA LLP for supply of fuel pellets to be used for production of fuel assemblies and their subsequent delivery to NPP of China under long-term contract between Ulba-FA LLP and Chinese company CGNPC-URC.

Also, in the nearest future, an amendment will be signed to extend the contract with Chinese partners that is significant for UMP JSC, the execution of which will ensure utilization of production capacity of Uranium Operations for production of fuel pellets for 2021-2022.