Kazakhstan Nuclear Emergency Center Opens With U.S. Support

Kazakhstan has opened a center to monitor radiation and coordinate responses to nuclear and radiological emergencies, with support from the United States Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The center opened on October 2 under Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Agency. It will receive and analyze radiation data, facilitate information exchange between government agencies, and coordinate their actions during emergencies. The authorities also plan to train specialists and conduct practical emergency-response exercises. Kazakhstan is the world’s largest uranium producer and operates nuclear research facilities. The consequences of Soviet nuclear weapons testing at Semipalatinsk continue to require monitoring and remediation. Between 1949 and 1989, 456 nuclear tests were conducted at the site, leaving areas contaminated with radioactive material. Emergency preparedness needs will increase as the country develops nuclear power generation. In an October 2024 referendum, 71.12% of those who voted supported the construction of a nuclear power plant, with turnout at 63.66%. The authorities have since begun preparations for second and third plants. The first new nuclear power plant is planned near the village of Ulken on the shore of Lake Balkhash. A consortium headed by Russia’s Rosatom will lead the project. The site for a second plant has been designated in the Zhambyl district of the Almaty region, near the first project, while China National Nuclear Corporation has been selected to lead the second project. Kazakhstan can also exchange urgent information on nuclear and radiological emergencies through the international system of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Centre is the round-the-clock global focal point for emergency communication and coordinates information exchange and international assistance. Kazakhstan plans to train specialists for its future nuclear power plants both domestically and abroad