Nuclear Energy - The Times Of Central Asia

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Nuclear power

Kazakhstan Finalizes Sites for Second and Third Nuclear Power Plants

Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry has identified the regions of Balkhash, Kurchatov, and Mangistau as potential sites for the country’s second and third nuclear power plants, Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev has announced. The first plant is set to be built in Almaty region. New Construction Sites Initially, Kazakhstan planned to build a single nuclear power plant by 2035 to address potential energy shortages. However, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev later instructed the government to explore the construction of at least two additional plants. Following an Energy Ministry board meeting on Wednesday, Satkaliyev told reporters that three locations are under consideration for the second and third nuclear plants: Balkhash - a city in southeastern Kazakhstan. Kurchatov - a city in the Abai region that previously served the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site during the Soviet era. Aktau - the regional center of Mangistau, where an experimental nuclear reactor operated during the Soviet era. “We plan to build at least three nuclear power plants in Kazakhstan in the medium term. The government has identified promising sites for the second and third plants based on regional development needs, electricity demand, and diversification of the national power grid. The Balkhash site is highly promising, with the capacity for up to four 1,200 MW units. Kurchatov is suitable for two 1,200 MW units. The Mangistau site also offers significant advantages, including the potential for a medium-capacity plant,” Satkaliyev stated. Timeline and Contractors for the First Plant The government has approved the Zhambyl district of Almaty region, near the village of Ulken, as the site for the first nuclear power plant. However, the final decision will depend on engineering surveys in the region. Four companies are in contention to construct Kazakhstan’s first nuclear plant: Rosatom (Russia) KHNP (South Korea) CNNC (China) EDF (France) “In the first half of 2025, we plan to announce the configuration for the first nuclear power plant,” Satkaliyev said. The Energy Ministry has sent a list of 207 questions covering 19 key aspects of construction and operation to all four bidders. Responses were received last week and are now under review by an interdepartmental commission. “It is too early to determine a frontrunner. The final decision on the contractor will be made after a thorough review, possibly even earlier than expected,” Satkaliyev noted. A referendum held on October 6, 2024, showed that 71.12% of voters approved the construction of a nuclear power plant in Almaty region.

Nuclear Energy

Washington Signals Interest in Uzbekistan’s Nuclear Energy Sector

The United States has expressed interest in cooperating with Uzbekistan on civil nuclear energy investments, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated following a February 21 phone call between Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “Secretary Rubio spoke with Foreign Minister Saidov to reaffirm U.S. support for Uzbekistan’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. They discussed ongoing cooperation through the C5+1 platform to promote stability and economic growth in Central Asia. Secretary Rubio also thanked Uzbekistan for its efforts in controlling illegal migration and counterterrorism cooperation. The U.S. looks forward to exploring investment opportunities in critical minerals and civil nuclear energy technologies,” the statement read. U.S. Expands Nuclear Energy Engagement in Central Asia The United States has previously shown interest in participating in nuclear energy projects in Central Asia, including the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Kazakhstan. During an October 2024 visit to Almaty, Khush Choksi, Senior Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, emphasized America’s readiness to take part in Kazakhstan’s nuclear energy sector. “The U.S. has the best technologies for nuclear power plants, and we hope there will be an open tender allowing American companies to participate,” Choksi told reporters. Strategic Energy Cooperation Washington’s interest in nuclear energy partnerships with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan reflects its broader strategy to expand energy cooperation in Central Asia. The region’s growing demand for energy security, technological development, and investment in clean energy solutions aligns with U.S. efforts to strengthen economic ties and counterbalance the influence of other global energy players.

Nuclear Energy

Uzbekistan Seeks International Collaboration for Nuclear Energy Project

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on February 10 to review progress in Uzbekistan’s nuclear energy sector and outline future goals. Officials reported that 25 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity will be added over the next five years, generating 64 billion kilowatt-hours of green energy annually. By 2030, the country aims to increase the share of renewable energy to more than 50% of total electricity production. Azim Ahmadkhodjayev, director of Uzatom, discussed the sector’s prospects in an interview with Uzbekiston 24 TV following the meeting. He noted that by 2040, the share of nuclear energy in global electricity production could rise from 9% to 25%. He also recalled that Uzbekistan signed an agreement last year with Rosatom to build a 330 MW small-scale nuclear power plant in Jizzakh. “Our president emphasized that this project should have an international character, with the involvement of various international organizations,” he said. In addition to Russian technologies, the project will integrate Chinese non-nuclear technologies and European software and hardware. “To implement this project, we will create an international consortium using the most advanced technologies,” Ahmadkhodjayev added. To reduce water consumption, the project may incorporate dry coolers from Hungarian or Chinese manufacturers. Uzatom has also developed a cooperation program with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to train specialists and ensure safety in nuclear energy projects. Ahmadkhodjayev noted that the president has instructed officials to explore alternative approaches for similar projects in the future.

Nuclear Energy

Kazakhstan Trains a Thousand Specialists for Future Nuclear Power Plants

Six universities in Kazakhstan are currently training personnel for the nuclear and atomic industries. According to Gulzhan Dzharasova, Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Higher and Postgraduate Education at the Ministry of Science, approximately 1,000 students are pursuing engineering degrees related to the nuclear sector. Kazakhstan’s decision to build its first nuclear power plant (NPP) was made last fall following a referendum, in which more than 70% of the population voted in favor of nuclear energy. The first plant is set to be built in the Almaty region and is expected to be operational by 2035, as the country anticipates an energy shortage by that time. The plant will require a workforce of at least 2,000 employees, and the Ministry of Energy aims to train specialists domestically to meet this demand. To support this initiative, local colleges will introduce training programs for key technical roles, including dosimetrists, steam turbine equipment repair specialists, nuclear power plant maintenance and mechanical repair specialists, and IT professionals specializing in nuclear energy. Currently, 921 students are enrolled in nuclear engineering programs at Kazakhstan’s higher education institutions, with nearly all (96%) receiving government-funded scholarships. “As part of a strategic partnership in this field, branches of leading foreign universities are being established. The National Research Nuclear University has been created at the Kazakh National University (KazNU). Additionally, a consortium of German technical universities has launched a new training format for engineers in the electric power industry. In 2024, a branch of Anhalt University opened at the Almaty University of Power Engineering and Communications, where specialists in electrical and power engineering are being trained,” Dzharasova said. Kazakhstan’s Growing Need for Nuclear Energy Experts Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy, Almasadam Satkaliyev, addressed concerns about the demand for nuclear energy specialists. He stated that the country will need at least three nuclear power plants, which would require a workforce of 5,000 to 6,000 trained professionals. “The sites for all three plants will be selected based on a comprehensive plan. It is not feasible to plan one station first and then another separately. We must first analyze the network configuration, power distribution schemes, cross-border energy flows, grid voltage levels, the necessary number of substations, and the feasibility of using direct current (DC) technology for long-distance transmission,” Satkaliyev explained. Accelerating Nuclear Power Plant Construction At a recent briefing, Satkaliyev also stated that the first nuclear power plant unit in Kazakhstan could be completed within eight years. “Even considering the average global timeline for such projects, we will push vendors to explore the possibility of expediting construction so that we can have the first unit operational within eight years,” he said. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Kazakhstan plans to select a contractor for the construction of its first nuclear power plant in the first half of this year.

Nuclear Energy

With Russia Visit, Kazakh Team Wraps Up Study Tour For Nuclear Project

A Kazakh delegation has toured one of Russia’s main nuclear energy facilities, inspecting the turbine hall, laboratories and cooling systems of power units as it rates possible suppliers for the construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant. Similar trips were made late last year to the other countries on Kazakhstan’s short list: South Korea, France and China. Kazakhstan will make a final decision on a supplier or consortium for the nuclear power plant project this year, the Ministry of Energy said, reflecting momentum since Kazakhstan approved the government-backed plan in a national referendum in October. Kazakhstan, the world’s top producer of uranium, wants to reduce reliance on coal, a major source of pollutants, and address electricity shortages as demand grows. Kazakh Energy Minister Almassadam Satkaliyev led a team that visited the Leningrad nuclear power plant near St. Petersburg on Tuesday, showing particular interest in VVER-1200 reactor technology, the flagship project of Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear agency. “Today, we have completed our series of working visits aimed at studying the world’s best practices in nuclear energy,” Satkaliyev said, according to the ministry statement. He said the visit “provided us with an in-depth understanding of the technologies and safety measures that ensure environmental protection and the well-being of local residents.” The VVER-1200 reactor, a pressurized water reactor that uses so-called Generation III+ power units, is said to have high safety standards and its technology is being exported to countries including China, India, Egypt and Turkey. The technology incorporates lessons learned from the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan in 2011, in which an earthquake and ensuing tsunami knocked out the plant’s energy supply. According to Rosatom, VVER-1200 safety systems allow the nuclear plant to operate in situations such as “earthquakes, floods, storm winds, hurricanes, snowfalls, tornadoes, low and high extremes of temperature, as well as such man induced events as aircraft crash (or impact from aircraft parts), air shock wave, fire, and flooding caused by water pipe breaks.” The Leningrad plant has two VVER-1200 reactors and several older RBMK reactors, which have a graphite-moderated design that was upgraded after the RBMK reactor disaster at Chernobyl in 1986. Those older reactors are gradually being phased out at Leningrad. Many Kazakh people are uneasy about nuclear power because of the legacy of the Semipalatinsk site, where decades of Soviet-era nuclear weapons tests led to health and environmental problems because of radioactive contamination. Ahead of last year’s “yes” vote in the referendum, the government argued that nuclear power would be a relatively clean, cheap – and safe - alternative to coal-fired plants. Some analysts have warned of geopolitical complications for Kazakhstan in choosing foreign partners for its nuclear industry, including concerns about dependence on Russia, which is at war with Ukraine and currently under Western sanctions. But a Carnegie Politika commentary in October said Kazakhstan “has more agency today than at any previous point in negotiations” and could demand favorable terms for nuclear technology transfer, allowing it to build up the “localization” of its industry. By...

Nuclear Energy

Kazakhstan Completes International Visits Ahead of Nuclear Power Plant Construction

Kazakhstan has completed a series of international visits to evaluate technologies for its planned nuclear power plant (NPP). On January 21, 2025, a Kazakh delegation led by Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev visited Russia to assess the operations of Generation 3+ nuclear power units at the Leningrad NPP. During the visit, the delegation examined key components of the plant, including its control systems, turbine hall, laboratory facilities, and cooling system. Particular focus was placed on the VVER-1200 reactor, the flagship project of Russia's state nuclear corporation, Rosatom. This visit marked the final stage of Kazakhstan’s review process of potential suppliers for the NPP. From October to December 2024, Kazakh specialists also visited South Korea, France, and China. As a result, the final list of candidate suppliers includes Russian Rosatom, Korean KHNP, Chinese CNNC, and French EDF. While in Russia, the Kazakh delegation also consulted with Leningrad NPP management and visited the satellite town of Sosnovy Bor, a scientific and engineering innovation hub. The Leningrad NPP is Russia’s largest by installed capacity and features two types of reactors: uranium-graphite RBMK and water-water VVER. “We have completed a series of working visits dedicated to studying advanced nuclear power technologies. Familiarization with the operation of Leningrad NPP allowed us to study in detail the key aspects of operation, the safety of the plant, and its impact on the environment,” Energy Minister Satkaliyev stated. The final decision on the supplier or consortium to construct the NPP will be made in 2025. This decision will take into account Kazakhstan’s national interests, its international obligations, and recommendations from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant is set to be built in the village of Ulken on the shores of Lake Balkhash. The project is intended to address the country’s growing power shortages and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Potential partners from China, Russia, South Korea, and France are being considered, and the project is expected to be financed through foreign loans.