Wedoany.com Report-Feb 27, The Kazakhstan government has chosen the Zhambyl district in the Almaty region as the site for a planned nuclear power plant. A decree confirming this decision was published on December 30, 2024, on the Minister of Justice’s website and took effect that day. Ministers have expressed their goal to select a technology supplier for the project within 2025.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev casting his referendum vote in October

Over 71% of voters in an October 2024 referendum supported the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, reflecting broad public approval. On February 25, 2025, the Ministry of Energy provided an update, noting that Energy Minister Almassadam Satkaliyev announced the development of a national nuclear industry strategy extending to 2050. He stated: "It is planned to select a technology supplier (or consortium) for the construction of a nuclear power plant, as well as conclude an intergovernmental agreement and relevant contracts" in 2025, following the site confirmation.

Four companies are under consideration to provide the technology: China National Nuclear Corporation with its HPR-1000 design, France’s EDF with the EPR1200, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power with the APR-1000/APR-1400, and Russia’s Rosatom with the VVER-1200 reactor. The government aims to finalize its choice and secure agreements within the year.

Kazakhstan leads globally in uranium production and has prior nuclear experience, including three active research reactors and a BN-350 sodium-cooled fast reactor that operated near Aktau until 1999. Although the country currently relies heavily on fossil fuels, it seeks to shift toward a more diverse energy mix and lower CO2 emissions through nuclear power. Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP), established in 2014 under the Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund JSC, is designated as the future plant’s owner and operator. KNPP completed a feasibility study in 2018 to assess the need for nuclear energy and identified Ulken, on Lake Balkhash’s shores, as the optimal location.

The initial nuclear power plant will feature a large reactor, with potential plans for small modular reactors to replace aging coal facilities in the future. A second large plant is also under consideration. The government targets nuclear energy to account for 5% of the national energy mix by 2035, supporting long-term sustainability and energy diversification goals.