Rosatom will lead an international consortium to build Kazakhstan’s first large nuclear power plant. At the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), the Russian nuclear corporation and the Republic of Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Agency (AEA) signed documents outlining the preparatory and implementation stages of the project.
On June 14, the AEA announced that Kazakhstan’s Interagency Commission on the Nuclear Industry Development had found Rosatom’s proposals to be the most adequate and advantageous.
The idea of building a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan has been around for decades, but until recently, discussions did not progress beyond the planning stage. Several factors have since changed the landscape. First, the country’s rapid development has led to growing energy demand. In 2021, electricity generation reached 114.45 billion kWh, while consumption stood at 113.89 billion kWh. In 2022, consumption surpassed generation, with 112.94 billion kWh of electricity produced versus 112.82 billion kWh consumed. The gap continued to widen: in 2024, generation hit 117.9 billion kWh, while consumption rose to 120 billion kWh. Kazakhstan’s power grid urgently needs new generating capacity.
Second, global public opinion has shifted in favor of nuclear stations. In recent years, many countries and regional blocs have recognized nuclear energy as reliable and helpful in achieving sustainable development goals, particularly by providing clean and affordable energy.
Kazakh authorities conducted an extensive outreach campaign, explaining the safety, supply reliability, cost predictability, and environmental benefits of nuclear power. In October 2024, a nationwide referendum was held on the construction of a nuclear power plant, with 71.12% of voters supporting the initiative.
Following the referendum, government officials held negotiations with leading global reactor technology providers, visiting their manufacturing sites and generation facilities. Kazakh representatives traveled to Russia in January this year to visit PetrozavodskMash and the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant.
After all these visits, they shortlisted four potential suppliers from four countries. Each of them submitted technical and commercial proposals, specifying estimated construction costs, timelines, financing models, local content strategies for equipment and workforce, staff training, scientific collaboration, fuel cycle cooperation, and social commitments.
The AEA, Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants (KNPP), and French engineering group Assystem developed an evaluation methodology and applied it to the submitted bids. The results were then presented to the Interagency Commission on Nuclear Industry Development.
“We welcome Kazakhstan’s decision to move forward with the nuclear power plant project,” said Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev. “The country will have a nuclear plant built to one of the world’s most advanced and efficient designs, featuring Russian technologies. Our Generation III + VVER-1200 reactors combine time-proven engineering solutions with the latest active and passive safety systems developed in strict compliance with international safety standards. These reactors are already operational in Russia and abroad, four units in Russia and two in Belarus. This technology has also been selected by our partners in Hungary, Egypt, Turkey, Bangladesh, and China. There is still much work ahead, and we count on support and assistance from the leadership of both Russia and Kazakhstan,” said Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev.
The decision was met with optimism in Kazakhstan. “The nuclear power plant project aims to address electricity shortages in southern regions of Kazakhstan, reduce dependence on energy imports, ensure stable and predictable energy supply regardless of weather conditions, boost investment appeal of the sector, and stimulate new jobs in the project’s host region,” stated the Kazakhstan Electric Power Association.
“Russia and China have a broad experience in organizing international consortia, so they know how to effectively integrate equipment from different manufacturers into a single project. However, Russia has the best track record in constructing nuclear plants abroad, including in adapting them to local regulatory requirements and collaborating with domestic industries, maximizing the use of local products and services in the project,” Erlan Batyrbekov, Director General of Kazakhstan’s National Nuclear Center, said in an interview with Orda.kz.
At SPIEF, Alexey Likhachev and AEA Chairman Almasadam Satkaliyev signed a roadmap outlining key activities for the large-scale nuclear power plant project in Kazakhstan. The roadmap provides for conducting engineering and site surveys, concluding an EPC contract, and developing design documentation. Additionally, Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants and AtomStroyExport (Rosatom’s engineering division) signed a framework agreement setting out the core cooperation principles for the construction project in the Zhambyl District of the Almaty Region.
“The construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan is part of a broader strategy to facilitate sustainable development of the country’s energy sector. We expect close and transparent cooperation with our partners to ensure high safety standards and meet local content requirements,” Almasadam Satkaliyev commented.
Work is underway to secure Russian government export financing for the project and to form the consortium. “In its overseas projects, Rosatom always relies on broad cooperation with international suppliers, enabling the use of the most advanced, customer-tailored solutions,” Alexey Likhachev emphasized.
Photo by: Engineering division of Rosatom, Newspaper “Strana Rosatom”, Wikipedia
