Photo: t.me/aqorda_resmi
Kazakhstan needs not one, but three nuclear power plants, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated at the National Kurultai in Burabay, according to the presidential press service.
Tokayev called for a long-term, well-thought-out approach to the country’s energy development.
«The goal is not just to meet current energy demands. It is strategically important to build an entirely new energy sector that will serve as a foundation for our dynamic economic growth for decades to come. That is why I believe we must construct not just one, but three nuclear power plants, ultimately forming a full-fledged nuclear industry cluster,» he said.
To oversee this ambitious initiative, Tokayev announced the creation of a Nuclear Energy Agency, which will operate under the presidency.
In fall 2023, Kazakhstan held a referendum on nuclear energy development, with 71.12% of voters supporting the initiative. The first nuclear plant is set to be built in Ulken, a village in the Almaty region, near Lake Balkhash.
The project will be handled by an international consortium, but the final participants remain undetermined. The shortlist of potential technology suppliers includes: China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), Rosatom (Russia), Électricité de France (EDF).
The final decision on the consortium's composition is expected in the first half of 2025.
