Nuclear Power Plant Construction Dilemma in Kazakhstan: Potential Builders Contended
In the heart of Central Asia, Kazakhstan is making waves in the global energy sector, with its ambitious plans to construct its first nuclear power plant (NPP). The nation, rich in resources and boasting a favorable investment environment, has attracted attention from several nuclear industry players. November 2024 marked a significant month for Kazakhstan's 'multivector nuclear diplomacy,' with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visiting France, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov traveling to China, Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu going to South Korea, and a reciprocal visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
South Korea, represented by Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP), is actively promoting its APR-1400 reactors and emphasizes its readiness to ensure maximum localization. This approach would allow Kazakhstan to develop its own industrial and technological potential in the future. France offers high-level technologies and a long-term uranium partnership, with negotiations with EDF, Framatome, and Arabelle Solutions demonstrating the seriousness of its bid.
The USA, a long-time cooperative partner in the field of nuclear non-proliferation, dismantling nuclear infrastructure, and implementing civilian nuclear cooperation projects, has expressed its support for an open international tender. The USA is also ready to promote small modular reactor (SMR) technologies from NuScale and GE Hitachi.
Russia offers the VVER-1200 reactor, emphasizing sustainability, a clear business model, and geographical proximity as advantages for its proposal. China proposes to build an NPP for Kazakhstan consisting of two units of 1.2 GW each, with a total cost of $5.6 billion and a construction period of about five years. The main question currently facing Kazakhstan is the architecture of the future consortium.
The goal of the international venture, to be determined in 2025, is to realize the construction of Kazakhstan's first NPP in the Almaty region. The project aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower CO₂ emissions, with nuclear energy expected to cover about five percent of the national power mix by 2035. Over 70% of Kazakhstan's citizens support the idea of constructing an NPP.
Cooperation in nuclear energy is not only about investments and technologies but also about socio-economic development, training highly qualified personnel, creating new jobs, and the influx of advanced knowledge and competencies. Kazakhstan's multivector nuclear diplomacy is not implemented in isolation from other energy projects, such as the construction of thermal power plants, gas pipelines, the development of renewable energy sources, and the localization of energy equipment production.
The final decision on the choice of technology and partners for building an NPP is expected in 2025, with construction scheduled to begin in 2029 and commissioning set for 2035. The multivector approach adopted by Kazakhstan in its pursuit of nuclear energy is a testament to its strategic vision and its commitment to securing the best possible outcomes for its citizens and the nation's future.
