Russia’s Rosatom State Corporation has been selected to lead the construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant, following a competitive international tender process, the Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Agency announced.
The decision concludes a rigorous selection phase involving four global suppliers of nuclear reactor technologies: Rosatom (Russia), CNNC (China), EDF (France), and KHNP (South Korea). Each contender submitted comprehensive proposals detailing cost estimates, construction timelines, technology localization, personnel training plans, and participation in the nuclear fuel cycle.
After evaluating the bids, Kazakhstan’s interdepartmental commission ranked Rosatom’s proposal as the most advantageous for the country. CNNC placed second, followed by EDF and KHNP.
Almasadam Satkaliyev, Chairman of the Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Agency, confirmed the outcome and noted that the country also plans to negotiate separately with CNNC regarding the possible construction of a second nuclear facility in Kazakhstan.
The plant will be located in the Zhambyl district of the Almaty region, in accordance with a government resolution that took effect after being adopted on December 30, 2024. The location was officially announced on February 25, 2025.
Kazakhstan’s move toward nuclear energy follows a nationwide referendum held on October 6, 2024, in which 71.12% of voters supported the construction of a nuclear power plant. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has since urged the acceleration of nuclear energy development to address the country’s growing energy demands. The Ministry of Energy has stated that Kazakhstan will ultimately need at least three nuclear power plants.
The announcement places Kazakhstan alongside neighboring Uzbekistan, which began constructing facilities for a small nuclear plant using Rosatom’s technology earlier this year. Rosatom has also expressed readiness to build similar facilities in Kyrgyzstan, signaling broader regional cooperation in nuclear energy development across Central Asia.
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