Kazakhstan begins construction of first nuclear power plant, led by Russia’s Rosatom, with completion set for 2035–2036
Two pressurized water reactors to be built near Lake Balkhash’s Ulken area, with 70% public support marking a historic project launch
Central Asia’s energy landscape is undergoing a major transformation as Kazakhstan embarks on building its first nuclear power plant in history.
According to AFP and other sources, Russian state-owned nuclear power company Rosatom held a groundbreaking ceremony on August 8 near Ulken, a village on the shores of Lake Balkhash, about 400 kilometers northwest of Kazakhstan’s former capital, Almaty. The event was attended by Almassadam Satkaliyev, Chairman of the Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Agency, and Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom, among other key figures.
Satkaliyev emphasized that the project would drive Kazakhstan’s nuclear industry forward and have a significant long-term impact on national economic growth. “We aim to simultaneously achieve energy self-sufficiency and strengthen industrial competitiveness,” he said.
The project, estimated to cost between $14 billion and $15 billion, is scheduled for completion between 2035 and 2036. Rosatom has already begun site surveys and drilling operations, which will determine the final construction location.
The plant will consist of two Russian-designed VVER-1200 pressurized water reactors, each with a design life of 60 years and the option for a 20-year extension. As the world’s largest producer of uranium, Kazakhstan once hosted nuclear power plants as well as Soviet nuclear weapons and testing facilities during the Soviet era. However, following the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, the country abandoned its nuclear weapons and gradually decommissioned its nuclear plants.
In recent years, growing electricity demand and insufficient generation capacity reignited the debate over nuclear energy. Despite public sensitivity due to past radiation exposure incidents, a national referendum in October last year saw 70% of voters in favor of the project, enabling construction to move forward.
Kazakhstan has already selected China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) as the partner for its second and third nuclear plants. South Korea and France also took part in the bidding, but the government ultimately chose Russia and China, citing their ability to offer the most competitive terms.
Meanwhile, Russia is also planning to build a nuclear plant in neighboring Uzbekistan and is reportedly interested in constructing small reactors in Kyrgyzstan.