Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has ordered to create the Nuclear Energy Agency under the President. “We must understand that the global transition to a new technological order based on digitalisation and artificial intelligence is an energy-intensive process,” he told a meeting of the National Kurultai. “In such a reality, the energy deficit in the region and the world will steadily grow. Therefore, Kazakhstan must not only achieve full self-sufficiency in electricity, but also become a major exporter in the global energy market. This is the imperative of the times.”
He noted that by approving the decision to build the first nuclear power plant in a referendum, the people had begun to solve this problem. In February, the Energy Ministry said Kazakhstan’s Interdepartmental Commission for the Development of the Nuclear Industry had reviewed proposals from potential suppliers of Kazakhstan’s first NPP. As part of an open, competitive selection process, proposals from China National Nuclear Corporation (HPR-1000), Rosatom (VVER-1200), Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (APR-1000, APR-1400), and EDF (EPR1200), are being assessed.
According to a government decree signed by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Kazakhstan has now formally designated Ulken village in the Zhambyl district of the Almaty Region as the site for the first NPP.
Tokayev said it was important to approach the development of energy “thoughtfully, comprehensively, taking into account the long-term perspective”. He added: “The issue is not just about meeting the country’s current energy needs. It is strategically important for us to create a new energy industry that will provide a solid foundation for dynamic economic development for decades to come. That is why I consider it necessary to build not one, but three nuclear power plants and, ultimately, form a full-fledged nuclear cluster. Given the exceptional importance of this task, I have decided to create the Nuclear Energy Agency under the President.”
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister, Olzhas Bektenov, has visited the Abai Region and reviewed the progress of energy development and nuclear cluster initiatives. Bektenov said that transitioning to a full nuclear fuel cycle will drive progress across all sectors of Kazakhstan’s economy.
According to the Prime Minister’s press service, the visit included inspections of key facilities, including the Balapan test site, the Baikal-1 research nuclear reactor, and the National Nuclear Centre, where Bektenov attended a meeting on energy security.
During the flight over the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, Bektenov visited the Balapan test site, including Atomic Lake and silo launchers. He also examined the work of the Baikal-1 reactor, the world’s first specialised tokamak, designed for fundamental and applied research in controlled thermonuclear fusion.
At the Baikal-1 complex, Bektenov was briefed on the ongoing conversion of the IVG.1M research reactor to low-enriched fuel, an effort fully supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This conversion, part of a broader modernisation initiative, will significantly enhance the reactor’s capabilities, contributing to Kazakhstan’s energy independence and its scientific contributions to the peaceful use of atomic energy. Bektenov stressed the importance of supporting scientists and advancing research in this area.
At the NNC, he learned about key projects in nuclear energy, radiation safety, and ecological restoration. The NNC is focused on nuclear safety and energy, and the Prime Minister underscored the necessity of continuing research to restore the region’s ecological balance.
Bektenov also chaired a meeting on energy security, where reports were presented on the preparation for the construction of Kazakhstan’s NPP. The Energy Ministry is developing a Nuclear Industry Strategy to 2050, including plans for future nuclear plants and a robust training programme for the next generation of nuclear professionals, in collaboration with universities and institutes in Kazakhstan.
