by Tomris Virial
It’s published
Kazakhstan chose Rosatom, the nuclear power company of the Russian province, and the National Nuclear Corporation of China (CNNC), to lead an independent consortium to build its first nuclear power plant.
This shows the country’s return to nuclear power as Kazakhstan has not had its own nuclear facility since 1999, when Soviet-era reactors were closed.
In a national referendum last October, nearly 70% of Kazakh voters approved the construction of nuclear facilities, and approved the move strongly supported by President Kasim Jomart Tokayev.
One of the world’s top uranium producers, Kazakhstan now relies primarily on coal-fired power plants, along with the hydroelectric and renewable energy sectors.
Nuclear projects are seen as the key to reducing heavy coal dependence and meeting future energy needs in an environmentally sustainable way.
Nuclear projects are seen as the key to reducing heavy coal dependence and meeting future energy needs in an environmentally sustainable way. It features two Russian VVER-1200 Generation 3+ reactors.
Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev welcomed the decision and said that plants will use “the most advanced and efficient design in the world.”
This flagship project, Kazakhstan’s first commercial nuclear power plant, is expected to significantly improve domestic electricity and create thousands of jobs during construction and operation.
It will also restore nuclear power in Kazakhstan after a 26-year suspension since the closure of the BN-350 reactor.
Balancing global partners in nuclear projects
Kazakhstan has adopted an “international consortium” approach, inviting several foreign partners to participate in the nuclear program to balance strategic relationships.
Rosatom will lead a consortium of its first factory, but officials say China’s CNNC will head a second nuclear power project under another agreement.
“We have no doubt that China has the technology and a complete industrial base that is needed, so our next priority is to work with China,” said Alma Saddam Sakkariev, chairman of Kazakhstan’s atomic agency.
Details of the second plant, including the site, reactor design and timeline, have not yet been made clear, but the inclusion of CNNC highlights Kazakhstan’s efforts to induce both its powerful neighbors into energy ambitions.
Kazakhstan’s push for nuclear energy comes amid rising electricity demand and frequent electricity shortages in some parts of the country. The government argues that nuclear power will help strengthen energy security, reduce carbon emissions, and will utilize Kazakhstan’s abundant uranium resources for domestic profits.
“To avoid staying on the sidelines of global progress, we must use competitive advantages,” President Tokayev said ahead of the nuclear referendum, pointing to the country’s uranium as a logical asset for power generation.
At the same time, the nuclear project highlights Kazakhstan’s careful geopolitical balance law.
The decision to involve both Moscow and Beijing is in line with Astana’s broader strategy of maintaining strong ties between the former Soviet guardians and their huge Eastern neighbors.
By sharing a nuclear program between Rosatom and the CNNC, Kazakhstan can reassure both the Moscow and Beijing partnerships while diversifying its technical and financial support.
