Akchulakov Comments on Toqayev's Proposal on Nuclear Power Plant

Presidential adviser and former Minister of Energy Bolat Akchulakov commented on the idea regarding an international consortium building a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan at an investor forum in Astana, Orda.kz reports. 

Kazakhstan ranks first in the world in terms of uranium supply, which is the main fuel for nuclear power plants. We want to create a virtually complete fuel production cycle in the country, with the exception of enrichment, which we do not have yet,said Akchulakov. 

Akchulakov explained that Kazakhstan is considering four countries as potential partners in the nuclear power plant construction project: Russia, France, China, and South Korea.

All four are worthy, and the choice will depend on favorable conditions for us, including costs, speed of implementation and fuel supply capabilities,  noted Bolat Akchulakov.

The former head of the Ministry of Energy explained that uranium mined in Kazakhstan is suitable for use in nuclear power plants, but the process itself requires specific components. 

The issue here is not uranium, but fuel elements, which are produced using different technologies. Each country has its own unique solutions, differing in the shape and concentration of uranium, he added.

Speaking about the possibility of international cooperation in construction, Akchulakov explained: 

A station is not just a reactor, it is a huge complex of works, where companies from different industries participate. Even if you choose one technology, you will need to take into account elements of automation, telemetry, generation, and so on.

He cited the Akkuyu station project in Türkiye as an example, where Russia's Rosatom supplies the “core,” and European companies provide other components, including automation and electrical systems. 

It’s like an internal combustion engine: the technology can be universal, but further implementation requires the participation of different manufacturers, concluded Akchulakov.

Earlier, President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev noted that the nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan could be built by an international consortium rather than a single contractor.

Original Author: Artem Volkov