ASTANA – Kazakhstan expects its first two nuclear power plants to be completed by 2035, with construction of the Balkhash plant involving a Russian-led consortium headed by Rosatom and negotiations underway with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) over the second plant, known as Moyinkum, Minister of Energy Erlan Akkenzhenov said at a Nov.
4 government briefing. According to Akkenzhenov, discussions with CNNC are ongoing and cover the terms of the agreement, project parameters and construction timeline. “The parameters of the project are currently being discussed, including the terms of the deal and the timeline.
We believe that the projects should be completed by 2035,” he told journalists. The minister said the Balkhash plant would be implemented with the participation of the Russian consortium, while cooperation with CNNC is being explored for the Moyinkum project. Responsibility for nuclear energy projects was initially held by the Ministry of Energy but was later transferred to the newly established Agency for Atomic Energy.
Akkenzhenov noted that the agency is now responsible for the projects. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan plans to establish a strategic uranium reserve by the end of 2027, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin said on Nov. 3. The reserve is intended to supply three nuclear power plants planned in the country, involving Russia’s Rosatom and China’s CNNC.