Japan's government has added uranium to its list of critical minerals, citing the threat to supply raised by Russia's dominance of the mineral.
The addition of uranium came alongside the designation of "advanced electronic components'' to the list of "Specified Important Supplies'' that aim to ensure a stable supply based on the Economic Security Promotion Act, reported Nikkei.
Japan plans to ramp up the use of nuclear power, with plans to restart more reactors that have been standing idle since the Fukushima crisis.
The country has no indigenous uranium, so its annual requirements (of up to 8000 tU prior to the Fukushima accident) are normally met from Australia (about one-third), Canada, Kazakhstan and elsewhere, according to the World Nuclear Association.
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Uzbek deal
The critical minerals assignment comes a week after it was revealed that Itochu Corp, Japan's fourth-largest trading company, announced plans to sign a uranium development agreement with Uzbekistan that includes new exploration for the mineral.
The company said it expected to finalise the agreement by the end of January, reported Newsbase citing Nikkei news.
Itochu officials will travel to Uzbekistan for discussions with representatives from the country's national geology and mineral resources committee, added the newspaper.
The visit will coincide with a trip by Japanese Trade Minister Akira Amari to Uzbekistan, but specific details of the agreement have not been released.
