On August 8, 2025, a ceremonial event marking the start of construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant (NPP) will take place near the village of Ulken in the Zhambyl district of Almaty region. The project is being implemented by the Russian state corporation Rosatom. The announcement was made by Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants (KNPP), a subsidiary of the Samruk-Kazyna sovereign wealth fund and the designated operator of future nuclear facilities in the country.
According to the official media announcement, the ceremony will include speeches by government and industry representatives, the launch of drilling operations for soil sampling, and the symbolic handover of a capsule to the Russian side for further research.
While KNPP has been appointed as the operator for all future nuclear plants in Kazakhstan, the company is currently under the trust management of the Atomic Energy Agency, which oversees the implementation of the project in cooperation with international partners.
Rosatom was previously confirmed as the leader of the international consortium tasked with building Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant, which will be located on the shores of Lake Balkhash. The plant will consist of two power units with a total capacity of 2.4 GW. According to the Atomic Energy Agency, commissioning is expected between 2035 and 2036. The project’s minimum estimated cost is $14 billion, as stated in June by the agency’s chairman, Almasadam Satkaliyev.
Meanwhile, the Chinese company CNNC has been named the lead developer for Kazakhstan’s second and third nuclear plants. Specific details about their location, capacity, and construction timeline have not yet been announced. First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar has suggested that CNNC may complete its project faster than Rosatom.
Previously, the Ministry of Energy, before responsibilities were transferred to the Atomic Energy Agency, and industry experts estimated the cost of a 2.4 GW nuclear plant in Kazakhstan at between $10 billion and $15 billion. However, in August 2024, a CNNC representative told the publication Kursiv that the company could implement a similar project for approximately $5.6 billion, converted from Chinese yuan.
In the early stages of the project, Kazakhstan considered four potential technology providers. These included CNNC with its HPR-1000 reactor, Rosatom with its VVER-1200 and VVER-1000 reactors, South Korea’s KHNP with the APR-1400, and France’s EDF with the EPR1200 reactor. The initial plan was to choose a partner by the end of 2022, later postponed to the end of the first quarter of 2023. Ultimately, the final decision was made following a national referendum. In October 2024, 71.12% of Kazakh citizens voted in favor of building a nuclear power plant.
In March 2025, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that Kazakhstan should not stop at just one plant, but build three. He emphasized that developing a nuclear energy sector is vital for creating a new industrial base that can support the country’s long-term economic growth.
However, the project has drawn criticism from environmentalists, who are concerned about its potential impact on Lake Balkhash. Public activists and political analysts have also raised concerns about Russia’s involvement, warning that it could deepen Kazakhstan’s energy dependence on its neighbor.
The results of the Armenian parliamentary elections pose no specific obstacles to the signing of a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a foundi...
Iran and Israel said on Monday (8 June) they had halted attacks on each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Axios reported...
Corsica has moved a step closer to getting powers to make some laws locally after a French parliamentary committee approved a draft bill which would g...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 8 June, covering the latest developments you need to know....
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party has won the Armenian elections, picking up nearly half the vote. With a majority in p...
Kazakhstan will require major businesses to introduce five-year water-saving plans as authorities warn that worsening shortages could threaten not only the environment but also the country's economy.
For much of the post-Soviet era, Russia and Kazakhstan have maintained one of Eurasia’s most stable bilateral relationships. Deep economic ties, shared history and strategic geography continue to bind the two neighbours together, but Astana is increasingly pursuing a more independent path.
Kazakhstan has invited Cyprus to take an active role in the Trans-Caspian transport route, with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev saying closer cooperation could link Kazakhstan’s land infrastructure with Cyprus’s maritime network and boost trade between Central Asia and the Mediterranean.
Kazakhstan has used a high-level visit by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee to promote itself as a gateway to Central Asia, offering investors access to industrial projects worth more than $100 billion and a growing regional market.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party has won the Armenian elections, picking up nearly half the vote. With a majority in parliament, Pashinyan is set for a third term as Prime Minister. But an opposition politican has said he will challenge the election results.
The results of Armenia’s parliamentary elections will determine the makeup of the National Assembly and shape the country's political direction for the foreseeable future. But in Armenia, the final result is not decided by vote percentages alone. Here's how it works.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
Barcelona is preparing to mark a historic milestone in the legacy of architect Antoni Gaudí as Pope Leo XIV visits the city this week to inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família basilica, almost exactly 100 years after the visionary architect’s death.
Iran and Israel said on Monday (8 June) they had halted attacks on each other following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Axios reported that Trump had privately told Benjamin Netanyahu “be careful, or you will be on your own very soon”.
Uzbekistan and Russia have agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture, energy and food security following high-level meetings held during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2026.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the U.S. would bear direct responsibility for any escalation in West Asia after Iran and Israel resumed strikes for the first time since the April ceasefire.
Four Palestinians, including an eight-year-old boy, were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza on Monday (8 June), according to local health officials, as mediators continued efforts to preserve a fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Kazakhstan will require major businesses to introduce five-year water-saving plans as authorities warn that worsening shortages could threaten not only the environment but also the country's economy.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment