Astana (TDI): Kazakhstan has started construction of its first nuclear power plant, a landmark step in the nation’s long-term plan to secure reliable, low-carbon energy.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Friday in the Almaty region, marking the formal start of the project.
The plant, located near the village of Ulken on the shores of Lake Balkhash, about 400 kilometers from Almaty, will be developed by a consortium led by Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy giant.
Plans call for two reactors with a combined output of 2.4 gigawatts to be operational by 2035, a capacity expected to cover a significant portion of Kazakhstan’s future power needs.
Almasadam Satkaliyev, chairman of the Atomic Energy Agency, said the total investment would reach between $14 billion and $15 billion, with an additional $1 billion earmarked for social infrastructure in the surrounding area.
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Speaking at the event, Satkaliyev described the initial engineering and survey work as “a decisive stage” that would determine the plant’s final design, location specifics, and operational framework, while ensuring safety and economic viability.
Rosatom’s Director General, Alexey Likhachev, unveiled a model of the facility, which will follow the blueprint of Russia’s Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant and incorporate Generation III+ reactor technology.
The design is known for higher fuel efficiency, robust safety features, and a streamlined construction process aimed at reducing costs.
Satkaliyev emphasized that local companies and research institutions would play an essential role, creating thousands of jobs and strengthening Kazakhstan’s nuclear science and industrial capabilities.
To prepare a skilled workforce, the Atomic Energy Agency has initiated talks with leading academic partners, including Nazarbayev University’s Graduate School of Business and Duke University in the United States.
Discussions have focused on academic programs, faculty exchanges, and joint research aimed at training the next generation of nuclear specialists.
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“Developing human capital is a cornerstone for the safe and sustainable use of nuclear technology in Kazakhstan,” Satkaliyev said, expressing confidence that international academic cooperation would help ensure the future plant’s efficient and secure operation.
Kazakhstan intends to build at least two more nuclear facilities, with the China National Nuclear Corporation expected to lead the development of the second and third plants.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
