MINEX Forum

Tag: power plant

  • Kazakhstan Selects CNNC to Lead Construction of Second Nuclear Power Plant

    Kazakhstan Selects CNNC to Lead Construction of Second Nuclear Power Plant

    Kazakhstan has chosen China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) to lead the consortium that will build the country’s second nuclear power plant, according to Almasadam Satkaliyev, head of the Atomic Energy Agency. The two sides plan to sign a general cooperation agreement on nuclear energy.

    Satkaliyev emphasized that China has full technological capabilities and industrial infrastructure to handle the entire nuclear cycle independently, making CNNC a top priority partner. He also highlighted CNNC’s ability to deliver “fast and high-quality” results.

    Previously, Kazakhstan selected Russia’s Rosatom as the lead for its first nuclear power project. Other shortlisted contenders included France’s Électricité de France (EDF) and South Korea’s Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP). Satkaliyev described the Russian and Chinese proposals as “objectively the strongest.”

    The country’s nuclear ambitions have been progressing since 2021. In 2023, a national referendum showed strong public support for building a nuclear plant, with over 70% voting in favor. According to an official decree, the second nuclear plant will be built in the Zhambyl district of the Almaty region.

    The project will be handled by an international consortium of no more than five countries, with political risk assessments taken into account. The government expects the technical feasibility study to take one year and the design and planning stage another 18 months.

  • Tokayev Pushes for Faster Nuclear Power Plant Construction in Kazakhstan

    Tokayev Pushes for Faster Nuclear Power Plant Construction in Kazakhstan

    Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for the acceleration of nuclear power plant construction in Kazakhstan. According to Tokayev, the country may build two or three large nuclear stations to advance its nuclear energy sector.

    “We are currently focused on major infrastructure projects, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and nuclear energy. These are the key strategic areas for the development of our country. The government must prioritize these critical issues in its work,” the president emphasized.

    Tokayev also discussed the future of nuclear energy in Kazakhstan, noting the need for faster progress.

    “Regarding the construction of nuclear power plants — we need to speed up. As I mentioned in an interview, we plan to build two large plants, possibly three. We must transform Kazakhstan into a country with a developed nuclear energy sector, a nation where artificial intelligence functions and digitalization is fully implemented,” he concluded.

    On October 6, 2023, Kazakhstan held a referendum on the construction of nuclear power plants in the Almaty region. Tokayev had stated that, should the public approve, the construction would be undertaken by an international consortium of companies.

    The referendum results showed that 71.12% of Kazakh citizens voted in favor of nuclear plant construction. The Ministry of National Economy announced that the state would not fund the project. Instead, the government is considering project financing, with funds potentially provided by a consortium of international financial institutions. The state would repay this loan not from the national budget, but from the revenue generated by the nuclear plants.

    Kazakhstan is currently considering four companies as potential suppliers of nuclear technology: CNNC (China), Rosatom (Russia), KHNP (South Korea), and EDF (France).