Expert: No Final Decision Yet on Nuclear Plant Contractor in Kazakhstan

Media recently reported that China would build the country's first nuclear power plant, allegedly offering the most competitive bid, but energy sector expert Nurlan Zhumagulov says the situation is more complex, Orda.kz reports.

Zhumagulov noted that some outlets are already referring to a "Chinese project" as if a final decision has been made. According to these reports, the Chinese corporation CNNC is prepared to construct two reactors in Kazakhstan for $5.5 billion.

But the original source is unclear. And that price was mentioned last year — it reflects the cost of a plant in China itself. If the project is carried out abroad, costs could double due to logistics, loan interest, labor, local materials, and more,Zhumagulov emphasized. 

The information may have originated from Chinese media outlet Toutiao, which described a “fierce competition” between Beijing and Moscow to build Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant — and claimed China had won.

However, Zhumagulov pointed out that such a large-scale project is unlikely to be handled by a single country. President Toqayev has previously stated that multiple international companies would be involved.

The more relevant question is which company will lead as the general contractor.

Kazakhstan’s first nuclear plant will be built by an international consortium, similar to Uzbekistan’s model: one company will handle the reactors, another the turbines, and a Western vendor will supply the electronics. It will be a multivector approach. A Western country may also be selected to build a small modular reactor in the future. Let’s wait for the official outcome — it won’t be long now, the expert concluded. 

Zhumagulov has previously suggested that Russia is pressuring Kazakhstan to favor Rosatom in the selection process.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny