Kazakhstan engages IAEA experts to evaluate nuclear power plant site

Kazakhstan is taking concrete steps toward the development of its first nuclear power plant, with the country now in the pre-project phase, according to Rinat Okasov, Deputy Director General of Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants LLP (KAEŞ).

Okasov said that preparatory work is progressing rapidly and lays the foundation for the full-scale development of the project. In March, Kazakhstan established a dedicated Atomic Energy Agency, which now oversees the company’s operations.

As a key milestone, authorities have selected the Zhambyl district of Almaty region as the broader location for the plant. The next step is to identify a specific site within the region. To support this, Kazakhstan has invited experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to assist in the selection process.

“We’ve asked IAEA specialists to visit and share their insights on how to select a safe site and assess all relevant factors — human, natural, technological, and others,” Okasov said.

Previously considered locations included Kurchatov city and the village of Ülken, but the focus has now shifted to conducting in-depth engineering and environmental studies in the Zhambyl district.

“We’ve taken initial steps to identify a potential site, but now we need deeper studies — seismic analysis, meteorological data, water, soil, air conditions, and other factors that could impact safety,” he explained.

Kazakhstan emphasizes the importance of international knowledge exchange in developing its nuclear sector. “About 35 countries are successfully developing nuclear energy. Any experience is valuable. As we build our nuclear cluster, we must learn from the successes and mistakes of others,” said Okasov, noting Kazakhstan is engaging with countries like Armenia and Belarus.

His comments came on the sidelines of a five-day IAEA seminar in Astana, focused on site safety for nuclear installations. The seminar is organized by KAEŞ with support from the Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Agency.

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