Kazakhstan has recently completed its domestic ratification process for a tougher safeguard protocol of the International Atomic Energy Agency, setting the stage for Tokyo to form a nuclear energy cooperation alliance with the uranium-rich Central Asian nation, Kyodo quoted diplomatic sources as saying today. The Japanese government has been urging Kazakhstan to ratify the additional protocol, which allows IAEA inspectors to conduct safeguard inspections without advance notice, to prevent civilian nuclear technology from being diverted to the military. Citing the ratification as an assurance of prevention of such military diversion, Japan will declare the start of negotiations to conclude a bilateral nuclear energy cooperation agreement in late April when a high-level delegation visits the country, the sources said. The delegation will include Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari and executives of utility companies. The Japanese government and the utility industry have been jointly working to beef up ties with Kazakhstan, which has the world's largest uranium deposits with many mines remaining untouched. Japan relies on Canada and Australia, where mine output is peaking out, for about 60 percent of its uranium imports. The sources said Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbeyev has already signed the ratification which was earlier approved by parliament, thus completing the country's domestic procedures. The only remaining process is to officially file the ratification with the Geneva-based nuclear safety watchdog.
