Wedoany.com Report-Apr. 19, Kazakhstan has finalized a shortlist of four reactor vendors for its inaugural nuclear power plant after engaging in a thorough evaluation process with potential technology providers. The selected companies are Russia’s Rosatom, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), France’s EDF, and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), according to a statement from the Kazakh Atomic Energy Agency reported by Interfax.
The agency noted: “The final decision on the choice of a supplier or consortium for the implementation of the project will be made at a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission, taking into account the national interests of the country.” Discussions with the vendors have been ongoing with the Kazakh Ministry of Energy. CNNC has proposed its HPR-1000 (Hualong One) design, EDF its EPR1200, KHNP its APR-1000 or APR-1400, and Rosatom its VVER-1200.
Contracts and intergovernmental agreements for the project are expected to be formalized in November 2025. In December, the government selected the Zhambyl district in the Almaty region as the site for the planned nuclear facility.
Last month, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appointed Almassadam Satkaliyev to lead the newly established Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy. This body has assumed responsibilities previously held by the Ministry of Energy, overseeing the project’s development.
Kazakhstan, a global leader in uranium production, aims to diversify its energy sources and reduce reliance on fossil fuels through this initiative. The country has experience with nuclear technology, operating three research reactors and having previously run a BN-350 fast reactor near Aktau until 1999. The Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP), established in 2014 under the Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund, is leading pre-project efforts, including a 2018 feasibility study that supported the case for nuclear energy.
The planned nuclear plant will feature a large reactor, with considerations for small modular reactors in the future to replace aging coal facilities. A second large plant is also under review, aligning with the government’s goal for nuclear energy to contribute 5% of the national energy mix by 2035. The project reflects Kazakhstan’s commitment to sustainable energy development and emissions reduction.
The selection process remains on track, with the Interdepartmental Commission set to determine the final vendor based on technical and strategic considerations. The initiative is poised to enhance Kazakhstan’s energy infrastructure while leveraging its uranium expertise. Further updates on the project’s progress are expected following the planned agreements in November, marking a significant step toward the country’s nuclear energy ambitions.
