Company history

On 1 January the Volkov Expedition is established. Under Order No. 173 of the USSR Ministry of Geology dated 29 October 1947, it is charged with prospecting for and exploring uranium ores in Kazakhstan.

The Kurday uranium deposit is discovered: the first commercial uranium asset in Kazakhstan.

The Kurday deposit is explored and put into commercial operation; mining enterprises of the Kyrgyz Mining Combine are established on its basis. The Botaburum and Kyzylsai deposits are discovered the same year.

The Kubasadyr, Balkashino and Shat uranium deposits are identified in Northern Kazakhstan, marking the start of the formation of the North Kazakhstan uranium province.

In south-eastern Kazakhstan, on the southern margin of the Ili depression, the Kolzhat deposit, confined to the top of coal seams, is discovered.

Exploration shifts to the search for epigenetic uranium deposits.

An active search for deposits associated with stratal oxidation zones identifies the Uvanas, Kyzylkol, Chayan and Lunnoye deposits.

Exploration of the Uvanas sandstone-hosted (stratal infiltration) deposit begins; it is later brought into production by in-situ recovery (ISR).

The Kanzhugan uranium deposit is identified. It later proves to be the southern flank of the larger Moinkum deposit, with mineralisation in three Palaeocene–Eocene horizons.

The world-class Mynkuduk deposit is discovered; it is still mined by ISR today.

The Inkai and Budenovskoye deposits, unique in scale, are identified in Upper Cretaceous sediments of the Shu-Sarysu depression.

Exploration results establish the Shu-Sarysu depression as the largest uranium province: a long-term, reliable resource base for uranium production by in-situ recovery (ISR).

Exploration of the Kolzhat uranium–coal deposit is completed, and the deposit is reclassified as a major multi-component asset: alongside brown thermal coal, its reserves of uranium, molybdenum and other associated elements in processing-grade coals and sandstone beds are of commercial value.

By Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet dated 30 August 1983, the Volkov Production Geological Association is awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour.

The CPSU Central Committee, the USSR Council of Ministers, the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions and the Komsomol Central Committee award the association's workforce the commemorative badge "For high efficiency and quality of work in the Eleventh Five-Year Plan" and enter it on the All-Union Board of Honour at VDNKh of the USSR.

The Kazakh State Corporation of Nuclear Power and Industry Enterprises is established.

• In accordance with Decree No. 1291 of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 23 June 1993 "On improving the system of economic management bodies", the Cabinet of Ministers transforms the corporation into the KATEP National Joint-Stock Company for Nuclear Power and Industry. From then on, Volkovgeology JSC is part of KATEP.
• The Company masters the drilling of process wells for operating ISR mines.

Detailed exploration of the Rodnikovoye polymetallic deposit is completed.

Volkovgeology JSC joins the National Atomic Company Kazatomprom as a full participant in building a vertically integrated company with a complete nuclear fuel cycle.

Detailed exploration of the Tortkuduk section of the Moinkum deposit is completed.

Uranium reserves of the Inkai deposit, section 2, are assessed and placed on the State Reserves Balance.

Commercial assessment of the Central section of the Mynkuduk deposit is completed.

The Western section of the Mynkuduk deposit is explored and its uranium reserves are placed on the State Reserves Balance.

Detailed exploration of section 1 of the large Budenovskoye deposit is completed.

A geological and economic assessment of reserves is carried out for the Inkai deposit, section 3.

Kazatomprom's Prospecting Programme for Replenishing the Uranium Resource Base for 2016–2027 is developed and approved. It provides for uranium prospecting in promising areas of the Shu-Sarysu and Syrdarya uranium provinces and in Northern Kazakhstan, along the eastern and north-eastern margins of the Kazakh Shield.

Detailed exploration is carried out at the Letniy section of the Akdala deposit.

Detailed exploration of uranium is carried out at sections 1 and 2 of the North Kharasan deposit in the Syrdarya depression.

A major investment project is completed: a new research laboratory building is constructed and equipped with modern instruments for testing rocks, ores, groundwater and surface water, soils and other materials.

Under the 2016–2027 prospecting programme, uranium prospecting is carried out in the Shu-Sarysu and Syrdarya uranium provinces. Based on the results, resources of the Vostochny and Akkum-Yanykurgan areas are estimated.

Detailed exploration of the Western Mynkuduk deposit and prospecting and appraisal at Budenovskoye sections 6 and 7 are carried out.

• Additional uranium exploration of the North Kharasan deposit, section 1, is completed; the reserves are estimated in 2023.
• Uranium reserves of the Semizbay deposit are re-estimated and placed on the State Reserves Balance.
• Kazatomprom's Prospecting Programme for Replenishing the Uranium Resource Base is updated and approved for 2016–2038.

• Additional uranium exploration of the Inkai deposit, section 2, is completed; the reserves are estimated in 2024.
• Detailed exploration is carried out at the Budenovskoye deposit, sections 6 and 7.
• Uranium reserves of the North Kharasan deposit, section 1, are estimated and placed on the State Reserves Balance.
• A report on the geological study of the Western Mynkuduk deposit is completed.

• Exploration begins at the East Zhalpak section in the Shu-Sarysu uranium province, with geological supervision of exploration drilling.
• A report with uranium reserve estimates for the Inkai deposit, section 2, is prepared, together with a plan for its additional exploration.

• Exploration plans are developed for the Budenovskoye 5/1, 5/3 and North Budenovskoye sections.
• Geological exploration begins at the Inkai-Mynkuduk, Inkai No. 2 (southern flank), Budenovskoye 5/1 and 5/3 sections in the Shu-Sarysu uranium province, with geological supervision of exploration drilling.