The Ministry of Energy announced who is capable of constructing Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant.

According to the official website of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, another meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Development of the Nuclear Industry of Kazakhstan took place today, focusing on reviewing proposals from potential suppliers of reactor technology for the country's first nuclear power plant.

The commission includes representatives from government bodies of Kazakhstan as well as organizations from the nuclear and energy sectors.

The Interdepartmental Commission is examining proposals from leading global suppliers of reactor technologies. Previously, detailed questions regarding technological solutions, safety systems, financing conditions, and environmental aspects were sent to the companies included in the "short list."

Currently, the potential suppliers under consideration are "CNNC" (China, HPR-1000 reactor), "Rosatom" (Russia, VVER-1200 reactor), "KHNP" (South Korea, APR-1000 and APR-1400 reactors), and "EDF" (France, EPR1200 reactor).

Efforts to thoroughly and comprehensively study the proposals from reactor suppliers will continue. The final decision will be made taking all factors into account, the agency notes.

Additionally, it was announced today that the location for the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan has been approved - according to a government resolution, the country's first nuclear power station will be built in the Zhambyl district of Almaty region.

Recall that at the end of January, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed to expedite the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan and to determine the site for the second nuclear power plant.

Almasadam Satkaliev reported that a referendum will not be required for the construction of the second nuclear power plant.

In 2019, it became known that a nuclear power plant was planned to be built in Almaty region. At the end of 2021, Minister of Energy Almasadam Satkaliev confirmed that the nuclear power station could be located in this particular settlement.

In November 2023, the Minister of Energy discussed when the company that will build the nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan would be selected. In December, an estimated amount planned for the construction of the first nuclear power plant in the country was revealed.

In June of this year, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that a referendum would be held in Kazakhstan to decide whether to build a nuclear power plant in the country.

The voting took place on October 6 of last year. Kazakhs were asked to respond to one question: "Do you agree with the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan?" To express their position on this matter, citizens needed to place a checkmark or cross next to one of two response options - "yes" or "no."

According to the Central Election Commission, the turnout was 63.87%, meaning more than 7.8 million Kazakhs participated in the voting. The number of votes in favor of a positive decision was 71.12%, or 5,561,937. The number of citizens who voted against was 2,045,271.