China has produced its first barrel of natural uranium from its largest domestic uranium project, a key milestone in Beijing’s drive to strengthen energy security and reduce reliance on imports, state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said.

The National Uranium No. 1 demonstration project, also knowns as Guoyu No. 1, in the Ordos basin in northern Inner Mongolia, achieved first output on 12 July, CNNC said in a statement.