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Nuclear power

Kazakhstan Names First Nuclear Facility the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant

Kazakhstan has officially named its first nuclear power facility the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant, following the results of a national competition. More than 10,000 unique names were proposed by citizens across the country, with “Balqash Atom Elektr Stansiyasy” (in Kazakh) receiving the most votes. Nationwide Contest Engages Public in Naming The competition to name the new plant was conducted via the eGov Mobile platform and ran from September 25 to October 10. Open to citizens aged 16 and older, the contest received 27,157 entries, generating 10,460 unique name suggestions. These figures accounted for variations in Cyrillic and Latin spelling, as well as synonymous formulations. A selection committee was established on September 5, comprising public figures, members of the creative sector, philologists, historians, and nuclear energy experts. In its final session, the committee reviewed the 100 most popular submissions. Why “Balqash” Was Selected The winning name, “Balqash Atom Elektr Stansiyasy,” was submitted by 882 participants, placing it at the top of the popularity ranking. The Atomic Energy Agency noted that naming nuclear power plants after their geographical location aligns with international conventions. In this case, the name references the Balkhash Lake region, where the plant is under development. The commission also approved the following official version of the name in English: Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant. Participants who proposed the winning name will receive electronic certificates of co-authorship via the eGov Mobile app within one month. Authorities have compiled a database of all name proposals, which may be used in future naming efforts for additional nuclear units or plants. Despite the public engagement, some citizens on social media questioned the outcome, expressing skepticism about the need for a contest that ultimately selected a geographically obvious name. Construction Progresses at Ulken Site While the naming contest was underway, initial construction began at the nuclear plant’s designated site near the village of Ulken in the Almaty region. Preparatory work commenced in August, led by the Russian state corporation Rosatom as the general contractor. By the end of October, design and survey work was already in progress. The Ulken Nuclear Power Plant is expected to play a central role in Kazakhstan’s long-term energy strategy. Discussions are also underway regarding a potential second nuclear facility in the Zhambyl District of the Almaty region, though this project remains in the evaluation phase. Experts consider the area a promising location for future development.

Nuclear power

IAEA Approves Site for Nuclear Power Plant in Eastern Kazakhstan

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has approved a site near the city of Kurchatov in Kazakhstan’s eastern Abai region for the potential construction of a nuclear power plant, according to its Chairman Almasadam Satkaliyev. Kazakhstan held a national referendum last year on nuclear energy development, with over 71 percent of voters endorsing the construction of a nuclear power plant. Following the vote, the government selected Russia’s Rosatom as the contractor for the country’s first facility, located in the Almaty region. Construction has already begun near the village of Ulken on the shores of Lake Balkhash, approximately 400 kilometers from Almaty. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has since outlined plans to build a network of two to three nuclear power plants across the country. He has instructed the government to finalize both the vendor selection and site locations. China’s National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has been chosen to construct two additional plants, although their locations remain undecided. Kurchatov, adjacent to the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, and the Mangystau region on the Caspian Sea coast are under consideration. Speaking before parliament, Satkaliyev confirmed that the Kurchatov site has received IAEA approval. “We have a very transparent procedure before any decision on construction: mandatory public hearings, mandatory conclusions from the Ministry of Emergency Situations and other authorized state bodies, a full site survey, and an assessment by international experts. The IAEA has already approved the Kurchatov site, but without the consent of the local population, construction will not begin anywhere in Kazakhstan,” he said. Satkaliyev emphasized that no final decision has been made regarding construction in Kurchatov, but he expressed personal support for deploying small and medium modular reactors in the Abai region, which he described as “not as critically dangerous.” A decision has also not been finalized on the potential western site. Satkaliyev noted that the Caspian coast remains under review for the installation of small or medium reactors. “A corresponding study will soon be carried out to assess the feasibility of construction, based on IAEA criteria: seismic activity, safety, availability of a reservoir, and sufficient water supply. We believe this site has strong potential,” he said. During a recent meeting of the State Commission on the Atomic Industry, the Zhambyl district in the Almaty region was identified as another prospective site. “This means the second plant will also be in the south of the country, where there is currently an energy deficit. Electricity is transmitted there via the North-South transit line. A plant in this region would improve the reliability and stability of energy supply,” Satkaliyev explained. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Tokayev also announced plans to establish nuclear science cities in Almaty and Kurchatov to support the development of nuclear energy and nuclear medicine.

Nuclear power

Uzbekistan Plans Full Launch of Large Nuclear Power Plant by 2035

Uzbekistan plans to fully launch a high-capacity nuclear power plant by 2035, according to Azim Akhmedkhadjaev, director of the “Uzatom” agency. Speaking on September 25 at World Atomic Week in Moscow, Akhmedkhadjaev said the first small modular reactor is expected to begin operations in 2029 in the Jizzakh region, followed by a second unit six months later. The large-scale plant will see its first reactor come online in 2033, with full capacity expected by 2035. He noted, however, that final timelines depend on the conclusion of outstanding contract agreements. Akhmedkhadjaev confirmed that production of reactor equipment is already underway and that the project is proceeding on schedule. Responding to a question from a Spot correspondent, he reiterated the target dates for the larger reactors and emphasized that the timeline will be refined once contracts are finalized. The announcement aligns with Uzbekistan’s broader nuclear energy strategy. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the country plans to build both small modular and larger reactors at a single integrated nuclear facility. Under a revised agreement with Russia, Uzbekistan intends to construct two large VVER-1000 reactors alongside two smaller RITM-200N units. The initial framework for the project was established in 2018 and updated in 2024. Earlier this year, The Times of Central Asia reported that Rosatom had begun manufacturing reactor components for the smaller units, with the first steel castings for the RITM-200N already produced in Saint Petersburg. Uzbekistan’s pivot to nuclear energy is part of its strategy to meet rapidly increasing electricity demand, which is projected to reach 135 billion kWh by 2035, nearly double current consumption levels. To address this, the government is expanding generation capacity and modernizing the national grid. While the plans are ambitious, challenges remain. As Akhmedkhadjaev acknowledged, the full implementation timeline depends heavily on contract finalization. Nevertheless, Uzbekistan’s dual-track approach, combining scalable small reactors with large base-load units, suggests a strategic commitment to energy security and diversification.

Nuclear Energy

From Gas to Gigawatts: Uzbekistan Powers Ahead with Dual Nuclear Deal

Uzbekistan has confirmed it will be building a large nuclear power plant (NPP) with two 1000-megawatt (MW) reactors as the country prepares for a sharp increase in electricity consumption in the coming years. Uzbekistan’s state atomic energy company, Uzatom, posted on September 26 that a new agreement calls for both a large and small NPP to be constructed at the same site in Uzbekistan. The revised plan for NPPs in Uzbekistan combines agreements the country signed with the Russian state nuclear company Rosatom in 2018 and 2024. Uzbek Prime Minister Abdullo Aripov and his Russian counterpart at the time, Dmitri Medvedev, signed a deal in September 2018 for a large NPP with two VVER-1200 reactors. However, in late May 2024, during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Uzbekistan, a new agreement was signed for six small reactors, each with a capacity of 55 MW. Preparation work for six RITM-200N reactors started shortly after in the Farish district of Jizzakh Province. In June 2025, Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development said the agreement was restructured. The latest official agreement, signed September 26, 2025, commits to building an integrated NPP with two large VVER-1000 reactors and two small modular RITM-200N units. The Farish facility will be the first to house both a large and a small NPP at the same site. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Nuclear Week conference in Moscow on September 25, Uzatom director Azim Akhmedkhadjaev said, “We are the first in Central Asia to create an innovative solution for the future… (a) project combining advanced small modular reactor technology with time-tested solutions from large-scale nuclear energy.” The new agreement calls for the construction of two VVER-1000 units instead of the original VVER-1200 models. There was no explanation for the change in the type of reactors for the Uzbek facility. Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev was also at the conference in Moscow. Hojayev noted Uzbekistan is seeking to increase renewable energy sources so that by 2030, these sources will produce more than 40% of Uzbekistan’s energy. Khodjaev pointed to solar and wind projects in explaining why the small NPPs are necessary. “Large blocks (reactors) provide stable baseload generation, while small blocks cover peak loads and balance the erratic operation of solar and wind farms,” according to Khodjaev. Essentially, the smaller reactors will help ensure a constant flow of electricity into the domestic grid when there is insufficient wind or sun to keep wind farms and solar power stations operating at full capacity. As Much as Possible and More Khodjaev has said that when both the large and small NPPs are operational in 2035, it will add some 15-billion-kilowatt hours (kWh) to Uzbekistan’s power grid. Electricity production in Uzbekistan has risen from some 59 billion kWh in 2016 to about 81.5 billion kWh in 2024. A relatively small percentage of that is exported to neighbors. A recent agreement with Kazakhstan calls for sending some 900 million kWh of Uzbek electricity to its northern neighbor between March and December 2026....

Nuclear Power Plant

Over Sixty Kazakh Firms Compete to Join First Nuclear Power Plant Project

More than 60 Kazakh companies have expressed an interest in supplying goods, services, and undertaking construction work for the country's first nuclear power plant, according to Sergey Agafonov, chairman of the Kazakhstan Association of Energy Repair, Design, Engineering Companies, and Energy Equipment Manufacturers. Construction of the plant began last week near the village of Ulken on the shores of Lake Balkhash, approximately 400 kilometers from Almaty. Under the current plan, Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom will commission two reactors with a combined capacity of 2.4 GW by 2035. The facility is expected to meet a substantial share of Kazakhstan’s growing electricity demand. The estimated cost of the project is between $14 billion and $15 billion, with an additional $1 billion allocated for the development of social infrastructure in the region. Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev confirmed the company’s readiness to involve Kazakh businesses during a meeting with Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. According to the industry association, the preliminary list of potential Kazakh participants includes 66 companies: seven energy equipment manufacturers, 41 building materials producers, and 18 construction firms. Notable names include Tavrida Electric Astana, NERO Group, Kazakhstan Insulator Plant, Sayman Corporation, KARLSKRONA LC AB, Alageum Electric, and Karaganda Turbomachinery Plant. Among building materials suppliers, Qarmet is prominent, while Bazis-A Corp. stands out among construction companies. Agafonov noted that the project could serve as a major driver for local industry, drawing a parallel to Turkey’s Akkuyu nuclear power plant, where local firms played a substantial role. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan plans to construct at least three nuclear power plants. The Chinese National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has been granted the rights to develop the second and third sites.

Nuclear power

Kazakhstan Details Use of Russian Loan for First Nuclear Power Plant

Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Agency (AEA) has confirmed that Russian preferential export financing for the country’s first nuclear power plant will be directed toward the purchase of long-cycle equipment and major construction works. Key components to be covered include the reactor, steam generators, and main circulation pumps. The 2.4 GW twin-unit plant will be built near the village of Ulken on the shores of Lake Balkhash in the Almaty region. The loan’s terms and parameters will be set during the drafting of an intergovernmental agreement. Construction Management The project has been entrusted to Kazakhstan Atomic Power Plants LLP (KAP), a subsidiary of Samruk-Kazyna. In July, KAP was placed under the trust management of the AEA and will later become state property. The agency is also studying potential sites for the second and third nuclear power plants, taking into account geological, seismic, infrastructural, and environmental factors, along with electricity demand and public opinion. All studies are being conducted in line with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards. Fuel Production in Kazakhstan The AEA also highlighted plans to produce nuclear fuel domestically. The Ulba-TVS plant has reached its design capacity of 200 tons of finished fuel in low-enriched uranium terms, equivalent to about 1,600 tons of natural uranium annually, enough to reload six reactors. A joint venture with China’s CGNPC, the plant currently manufactures 440 fuel assemblies per year for Chinese nuclear power stations, each weighing about half a ton and produced to a French Framatome design. Moving to two-shift production could double output. While Kazakhstan lacks uranium conversion and enrichment facilities, authorities plan to develop this segment to establish a full nuclear fuel cycle. The AEA and Kazatomprom aim to ensure a steady fuel supply for the plant’s entire operational life. Project Costs and Local Involvement Russia’s financing will primarily fund equipment with long manufacturing lead times. The total cost of construction will be set after design completion and expert review. The AEA noted that costs will depend on site-specific engineering and survey results, local seismic and meteorological conditions, use of international equipment, the degree of domestic production of materials, and the involvement of local contractors and specialists. Kazakh suppliers will have priority in providing materials and labor, provided they meet certification standards. “It is economically unfeasible to import construction materials and workers from Russia if the necessary resources and specialists are available in Kazakhstan at more competitive prices,” the agency stated.