Électricité de France (EDF), Framatome, and Arabelle Solutions are prepared to assist Kazakhstan in the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP). This information emerged during discussions between Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev and leading French companies in the nuclear sector, as reported by a correspondent from the Kapital.kz business information center, citing the press service of the ministry.
The Kazakh delegation held talks with representatives from EDF, the energy generation company and operator of nuclear power plants, Framatome, the developer and manufacturer of NPP equipment, and Arabelle Solutions, the supplier of turbine equipment for NPPs. A meeting also took place with representatives from Assystem, an international consulting firm specializing in engineering services, project management, and digital solutions for complex infrastructure projects, including nuclear power plants.
“The French side expressed its readiness to support Kazakhstan in the implementation of the nuclear power plant construction project. France, where approximately 70% of electricity is generated from nuclear energy, is a global leader in this field. EDF has been included in the shortlist of potential suppliers of nuclear technologies for Kazakhstan,” the Ministry of Energy explained.
The delegation from Kazakhstan also visited the crisis center of the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) and a plant that manufactures equipment for nuclear power plants. During the visit, meetings were held with the Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Citizens Abroad, the Minister Delegate for Energy, and the Director for Energy and Climate in France.
In early November 2024, the President of Kazakhstan met with the CEO of Électricité de France (EDF), Luc Remont. The meeting focused on prospects for cooperation in the energy sector. The President shared that a nationwide referendum showed that the majority of Kazakhstan's citizens supported the decision to construct the country's first nuclear power plant. For his part, Luc Remont confirmed the company's intention to continue mutually beneficial partnership with Kazatomprom. He also offered suggestions for implementing promising projects in the field of renewable energy.