Top contenders for Kazakhstan's nuclear power plant project finally revealed
Russian state-owned nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom, announced its appointment as the head of the consortium tasked with the construction of the AES power plant in Kazakhstan.
In the race to construct Kazakhstan's first-ever nuclear power plant (AES), several big names have surfaced as potential players. The shortlist includes Russian conglomerate Rosatom, China's China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), France's Électricité de France (EDF), and South Korea's Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP).
These global powerhouses have submitted their detailed technical and commercial proposals, outlining estimated construction costs, timelines, financing models, localization plans, workforce training proposals, and more.
The interdepartmental commission on the development of Kazakhstan's nuclear industry deemed the proposals of the Russian powerhouse, Rosatom, as the most advantageous for the AES project. CNNC followed closely behind, while EDF and KHNP found themselves tied for third place.
Alexei Likhachev, the General Director of Rosatom, expressed his delight with Kazakhstan's decision to proceed with the AES construction project. He asserted that the station would be constructed utilizing "the most advanced and efficient project in the world, based on Russian technologies."
The first AES will materialize in the Zhambyl region of the Almaty region. Formerly, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev advocated for the project to be managed by an international consortium. A national referendum, held in October 2024, showed that 71.12% of Kazakh citizens supported the initiative, with 7.8 million people (63.66%) participating in the vote.
Stay tuned to our Telegram channel, @expert_mag, for all the latest updates!
Hashtags:
- #Rosatom
- #Kazakhstan
- #AES
Behind the Scenes:
The global competition for constructing Kazakhstan's nuclear power plant involves key players, such as Rosatom, CNNC, EDF, and KHNP. Here's a snapshot of the current situation and potential collaboration details:
Current Status
- Rosatom's Role: Rosatom will take the lead in constructing Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant, with the plant being stationed near Balkhash Lake and incorporating two VVER-1200 Generation 3+ reactors [3][4][5].
- CNNC's Role: CNNC is expected to head another international consortium for a second nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, aiming to reach a nuclear energy capacity of 2.4GW by 2035 [4].
Potential Collaboration Details
- International Consortium Involvement: While Rosatom leads the consortium for the first plant, the involvement of EDF and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power remains uncertain, with some experts suggesting minimal active participation [3].
- Kazakhstan's Ownership: Kazakhstan plans to maintain ownership and control of its nuclear power plants, fostering self-sufficiency by developing a local team of specialists to manage the plants' operations [5].
- Future Plans: Kazakhstan aims to expand its nuclear energy capacity, aiming to achieve 2.4GW by 2035 following the approval of nuclear power plant construction in the October 2024 referendum [4].
In the competition to construct Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant, not only Rosatom but also finance giants such as the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and South Korea's Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP are contenders in the industry, with their focus on energy provision. As for the potential financing model, the Kazakhstani government plans to maintain ownership and control, developing a local team of specialists to manage the plants' operations, ensuring self-sufficiency in this sector.
