Mongolia will supply critical metals including uranium to France as president Emmanuel Macron seeks to secure supplies for the country’s nuclear fleet and an ambitious programme of new-build.

“We decided to work together to boost our energy sovereignty through the supply of critical metals from your country, which has this resource,” Macron told a news conference with the Mongolian president Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh during the first visit to Ulaanbaatar by a serving French president.

A partnership with nuclear group Orano, which is working on developing a uranium mine in Mongolia, would be key, Macron added.

France imports most of its uranium from Niger, Australia and Kazakhstan. Paris has said it does not import uranium from Russian mines.