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Kazakhstan Initiates Nuclear Power Development
Key Highlights:
- Rosatom and CNNC Selected for Nuclear Projects
- Kazakhstan Aims for 2.4 GW Nuclear Capacity by 2035
- Public Support for Nuclear Energy Grows
ASTANA: Kazakhstan’s atomic energy agency announced on Saturday that Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) will lead the development of the nation’s inaugural nuclear power plants.
Despite being rich in oil and gas, there has been no nuclear power production in Kazakhstan since 1999, when the BN-350 reactor, located by the Caspian Sea, was decommissioned.
Kazakhstan is among the top uranium producers globally, yet it relies predominantly on coal-fired plants for electricity, complemented by hydroelectric facilities and a burgeoning renewable energy sector.
In October, a referendum supported by the president allowed a vote favoring the establishment of nuclear power plants, with plans to achieve a total nuclear capacity of 2.4 gigawatts by 2035.
The newly established Kazakh atomic energy agency, created in March, highlighted in a statement that Rosatom’s proposal was "the most optimal and beneficial," and efforts have commenced to secure state export financing from Russia.
Rosatom’s CEO, Alexei Likhachev, expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating that the planned plant will utilize "the most advanced and efficient design available globally."
The two-reactor facility is set to be constructed in the village of Ulken, around 400 kilometers northwest of Almaty, the country’s commercial hub. Likhachev noted that the facility will incorporate VVER-1200 Generation 3+ reactors, a technology successfully used in Russia and other countries.
Almasadam Satqaliev, the chairman of the Kazakh agency, mentioned that a separate agreement with CNNC will be made for a second nuclear power plant. He emphasized, "China clearly possesses the necessary technology and industrial base, and our next significant focus is collaborating with China."
Details about other companies involved in the consortiums, as well as the financial and timeline specifics of the projects, remain unclear. French and South Korean firms had also proposed their projects to Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan is enhancing its energy partnerships with both Russia and China. President Vladimir Putin visited Kazakhstan in November to discuss collaborative efforts in energy and industry. Most of Kazakhstan’s oil exports travel through Russia, although the country is seeking alternative routes.
In further cooperation, China National Petroleum Corporation agreed with Kazakhstan’s national gas company in February to increase gas imports for 2024-2025, along with finalizing a crude oil purchase agreement with Tengizchevroil, which operates oil production in Kazakhstan.
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