AKIPRESS.COM - Kazakhstan is offering to sell uranium to Brazil to cover the shortage of fuel for its atomic energy program and help the South American nation explore its large reserves of uranium ore, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister said May 5.

"We proposed the participation of Kazakhstan in tenders for the purchase of uranium or any other type of fuel that might be used in the Brazilian industry," Yerzhan Ashikbayev said after meeting with Brazilian energy officials, Reuters reported.

Kazakhstan is the world's largest producer of uranium and its national operator Kazatomprom accounts for one third of global output of the mineral needed to generate nuclear power and also make weapons.

Ashikbayev said Kazakhstan wanted to help Brazil explore its uranium reserves. "There is untapped potential in Brazil and we have the know-how to run large projects," he told reporters.