Kazakhstan Eyes Chinese Contractor and Almaty Region for Second Nuclear Plant

Kazakhstan has selected a location for a second nuclear power plant, which is expected to be built near the village of Ulken in the Almaty region, Orda.kz reports.

The first plant, currently under construction by Russia’s Rosatom, is also located near Ulken.

Atomic Energy Agency chief Almasadam Satkaliyev told the Majilis that southern Kazakhstan is facing a severe electricity shortage, and a second station is being planned in the same area.

China’s CNNC is being considered the leading candidate to build it, though no final decision has been made.

A meeting of the state commission on nuclear industry development identified a second promising site. The opinions of the national grid operator and the Ministry of Energy are being taken into account. The second station will also be in the south of the country — in the Jambyl district of the Almaty region. Because in the south, as you know, we have an energy shortage. A final decision in favor of China’s CNNC has not been made, but we are considering this company as a priority contractor,
said Satkaliyev.

There are no specific plans for building a nuclear power plant in Kurchatov. There is a directive from the head of state to create a science city. There is experience there in dealing with the aftermath of the tests at the Semipalatinsk test site. Kurchatov also has a leading-edge scientific base. Clearly, the development of the project in the Abay region must utilize at least small and medium-sized modular reactor technologies, which are not considered critically hazardous. If we decide to build a nuclear power plant there, public hearings will definitely be held. Nuclear power plants will not be built anywhere in Kazakhstan without taking into account the opinions of the local population,
 he added.

Satkaliyev also noted that nuclear facilities may eventually be built on the Caspian coast, though those plans remain in the research phase. Financing for all planned stations, he said, will be covered by contractors.

According to him, the second plant will feature at least two 1,200 MW water-water energy reactors, with the option to expand to four units in the future. These reactors are considered among the safest and are used in China, Russia, France, and South Korea.

He also outlined plans for supporting infrastructure:

Service and transport companies, restaurants, universities, and training and retraining centers will be built around the plant. In other words, a small town will appear around the nuclear power station. The station’s management will live there as well. And we will be constantly visiting for inspections.

Original Author: Anastasia Prilepskaya