Former Energy Minister to Lead Kazakhstan’s New Nuclear Energy Agency

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree establishing the Atomic Energy Agency, a new government body that will report directly to the head of state. The decision, announced on March 18, is part of broader efforts to improve the country’s public administration system. The new agency will oversee uranium mining, the use of atomic energy, radiation safety, and the management of the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone. Previously, these responsibilities fell under the Ministry of Energy. Along with its functions, the agency will also inherit its first leader from the ministry: Almasadam Satkaliyev, who has been appointed as its head after being relieved of his role as energy minister. Satkaliyev has held key positions in Kazakhstan’s energy sector, including serving as vice president for economics at KazTransOil, head of the Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Management Company (KEGOC), and chairman of Samruk-Energo. Since 2023, he has led the Ministry of Energy, where he played a central role in preparing for a national referendum on nuclear power plant construction and negotiating with potential suppliers from Russia, China, South Korea, and France. As head of the new agency, Satkaliyev is expected to work closely with the presidential administration on drafting regulations and structuring the agency’s operations. His successor at the Ministry of Energy is Yerlan Akkenzhenov, who previously served as deputy energy minister and has experience within the national oil company KazMunayGas. Tokayev first announced plans to establish the Atomic Energy Agency just days ago during a meeting of the National Kurultai (Assembly), as reported previously by The Times of Central Asia.