MOSCOW, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Russia's nuclear power monopoly Rosatom has started development of the Shirondukuyskoye uranium deposit in eastern Siberia, planning to produce the first uranium there in 2028, the company's mining division said on Friday.

The deposit - located close to the city of Krasnokamensk near the border with China and Mongolia, which is dubbed the "uranium capital of Russia" - has estimated reserves of 8,000 tons of uranium and 40,000 tons of molybdenum.

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"The development of the Shirondukuyskoye deposit is an important stage in the development of Russia's uranium mining industry," the division said in a statement.

"Its mineral resource base will not only support planned uranium production volumes but also ensure the long-term development of Krasnokamensk," it added.

Russia is only the world's sixth largest uranium producer but controls about 44% of global uranium enrichment capacity.

Russia imports uranium from other countries, mostly from Kazakhstan. Rosatom plans to increase domestic uranium production to 4,000 tons by 2030 from 2,796 tons in 2024.

Rosatom said that with Shirondukuyskoye, as well as the two nearby Argunskoye and Zherlovoye deposits, going into operation, uranium output could be increased by 2,000 tons per year.

Russia is currently boosting the share of nuclear energy in its energy production. The share of nuclear is projected to reach 25% by 2045 from 20% currently, according to Rosatom.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russias-rosatom-starts-development-uranium-deposit-eastern-siberia-2025-08-08/