Kazakhstan Plans to Finalize Nuclear Plant Project Documentation by 2026

Kazakhstan plans to complete design and cost documentation for its first major nuclear power plant in 2026, which could lead to a revision of the project’s estimated cost, Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar announced at a government press conference, Orda.kz reports.

Sklyar said that a feasibility study is expected by December 2025, after which work on the design and estimate documentation (DED) will begin in 2026. Once finalized, this documentation will pave the way for the next stage of the project.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasized that Kazakhstani subcontractors will be prioritized during construction.

We will engage local companies as much as possible in the construction. However, it’s too early to provide exact figures — those will become available once the documentation is complete. But our priority is clear: to involve Kazakhstan's businesses, Bektenov stated.

The preliminary cost of the nuclear power plant is estimated at $14 billion, though the final figure may rise depending on the project’s finalized specifications.

In late June, Almasadam Satkaliyev, head of Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Energy Agency, cited the same $14 billion estimate, calling it the minimum projected cost for the build.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny