Both countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in geology and mineral resources in the presence of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan is the world's fifth-largest uranium producer, producing 7,000 metric tons of uranium in 2025. Its Annual production reached 7,000 tonnes in 2025, up from around 4,000 tonnes in previous years, driven by rapid growth from state-owned producer Navoiyuran. It holds approximately 139,000 to 185,000 tonnes of estimated and identified uranium resources.
New Delhi and Tashkent, according to sources, are exploring the possibility of India joining uranium exploration and mining operations in Uzbekistan, potentially taking the relationship beyond a conventional buyer–seller arrangement.
India has limited uranium resources and vast thorium reserves, and its long-term nuclear programme has been designed to make optimum use of the former while eventually enabling large-scale utilisation of the latter.
In March, Cameco of Canada signed a nine-year agreement to supply India with nearly 22 million pounds of uranium ore concentrate between 2027 and 2035.
Tashkent has already opened its uranium sector to international partnerships, with state-owned Navoiyuran collaborating with France’s Orano and Japan’s ITOCHU in the development of the South Djengeldi deposit in Uzbekistan.