Kazakh Businesses May Miss Out On Billions From Nuclear Plant Construction

Kazakhstan plans to create a single register of domestic suppliers for the construction of its nuclear power plant by 2028, Orda.kz reports.

However, experts warn that slow decision-making could leave Kazakh plants without billions of dollars in orders.

According to the Atomic Energy Agency, a database of local manufacturers and contractors will begin to be formed soon, but the final list will only be approved in 2028. The register is expected to include companies that can supply materials and equipment for future nuclear power plants.

Officials say this should help involve Kazakh businesses in one of the country’s most expensive projects.

Zhakyp Khairushev, chair of the Public Council under the Energy Ministry and managing director at Atameken, said it is too early to celebrate. He told Orda.kz that by 2028, the main contracts may already have been distributed, while domestic companies may not have enough time to prepare.

In the nuclear industry, it is not enough to simply be a domestic producer. Strict quality standards, production traceability, and readiness to work according to international safety standards are required. The main risk is that our enterprises may simply be late in preparing,Khairushev said.

According to him, if clear rules are approved only in 2027, Kazakh plants may not physically have enough time to prepare production. As a result, many orders could go to foreign suppliers that are already ready for such projects.

Around $4 billion could be at stake for local businesses, according to preliminary estimates.

Khairushev divided nuclear plant construction into four major areas. The first is building materials, where Kazakhstan has the best chances and could localize up to 50% of supplies. This includes sand, crushed stone, cement, and reinforcement for external infrastructure.

The second area is heavy industry and cables, including metal structures, pipes, electrical engineering, devices, and automation systems.

The third is engineering and services, including design, equipment installation, testing, and technical supervision. If Kazakhstan lacks the necessary expertise, the ministry may consider creating new service centers from scratch.

The fourth area is digital solutions, including IT infrastructure, the nuclear register system, and procurement.

Ideally, the Energy Ministry wants Kazakh businesses to account for at least 20% of work at the initial stage and reach 30% by the end of construction, around 2035. To achieve this, the authorities plan to launch a special information system in 2027–2028 and upgrade domestic laboratories to meet the required standards.

Original author: Eva Golovintseva

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