China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has proposed constructing two nuclear power plant units in Kazakhstan with a combined capacity of 2.4 GW for a total cost of $5.47 billion—almost half the previously estimated cost of $10–15 billion, according to The Moscow Times.
The proposal positions CNNC as a serious contender in Kazakhstan’s ongoing selection process, which also includes bids from Russia’s Rosatom, South Korea’s KHNP, and France’s EDF. CNNC’s offer stands out not only for its lower price, but also for its commitment to share technology and grant Kazakhstan full control over the nuclear fuel cycle.
Kazakh authorities expressed strong interest in China’s approach, particularly its experience in nuclear and water-ecological safety at all stages of nuclear plant development. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also pledged its readiness to support Kazakhstan in the project.
The proposed plant would mark Kazakhstan’s return to nuclear energy following the decommissioning of the Soviet-built Shevchenko plant in 1999, which was shut down due to proliferation concerns. Now, with global energy security concerns rising and Kazakhstan holding 43% of the world’s uranium production via Kazatomprom, the country is looking to tap its nuclear potential anew.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy had previously warned that global inflation in materials and services could increase the cost of a nuclear plant by 1.5 times, underscoring the strategic appeal of CNNC’s more affordable and flexible proposal.
