Kazakhstan has approved plans for a second nuclear power plant in a significant scaling up of the country's nuclear ambitions. It comes a year after a referendum, which suggested more than 71 per cent support for the project, but which was also accompanied by allegations of irregularities.

Now, just over a year after the 2024 vote, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev says the country would ultimately require three such nuclear facilities, arguing that the creation of a new nuclear energy sector is both strategically important for Kazakhstan and necessary to provide a durable foundation for economic development in the decades ahead. The referendum itself, however, was marred by claims of irregularities, a factor that continues to inform public debate on the issue.

Full steam ahead

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov signed a government decree authorising the project in the Zhambyl district of Almaty Region. The decision entered into force on 26 January, confirming both the selected location and the government’s intention to proceed with more than one nuclear power project to help address regional power shortages and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

The move reflects a strategic approach that has been developing over several years. In January last year, President Tokayev instructed the government, together with the sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna, to elaborate a comprehensive vision for the development of the nuclear sector. He stressed the importance of careful assessment, modern and safe technologies and a well-considered choice of sites for future power stations. At that time, officials did not rule out the possibility that a second plant could be built in parallel with the first, a scenario that is now being translated into formal policy.

Redressing the balance

Energy imbalances within the country remain a key driver of the decision. The south of Kazakhstan continues to experience electricity shortages and relies heavily on power transmitted from the northern regions. At the time, then energy minister Almasadam Satkaliyev said that locating a second nuclear facility in the Zhambyl district was intended to address this structural deficit and strengthen the stability of the national grid, particularly in areas where demand was rising most rapidly.

Further nuclear plans becoming clear

Preparatory work on the first nuclear power plant is already under way. In the vicinity of the village of Ulken, on the shores of Lake Balkhash, engineering and geological surveys are being carried out as part of the Balqash nuclear power project. Actual construction, however, is not expected to begin before 2029, when the foundation is scheduled to be laid. The project is estimated to cost between $14 and $15 billion, with Russia’s state-owned corporation Rosatom selected as the lead company within an international consortium.

At the same time, the framework for the second nuclear project is becoming clearer. In June 2025, Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Agency announced the outcome of its selection process, naming China National Nuclear Corporation as the preferred leader of the consortium for the second plant, while Rosatom was designated for the first one. This choice has been reinforced politically: during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Astana in June 2025, President Tokayev described China National Nuclear Corporation as a reliable strategic partner in the field of nuclear energy. In the longer term, the Chinese company is also expected to play a leading role in the construction of a third nuclear power station.

Environmental and geopolitical concerns 

Criticism and concern persist alongside official assurances. Environmental groups warn that nuclear power plants could pose risks to nearby water resources, particularly Lake Balkhash, and underline the vulnerability of local ecosystems. Political analysts and civil society representatives have also expressed unease about the geopolitical dimension of the programme, suggesting that the involvement of Russia in the first project could increase Kazakhstan’s dependence on its northern neighbour. The authorities maintain that engaging multiple international partners, including China, is intended to diversify both technological and political risks.

In this context, the decision to proceed with a second nuclear power plant represents more than a technical or infrastructural choice. It marks a broader shift in Kazakhstan’s energy policy, as the country moves away from heavy reliance on coal and other fossil fuels, and positions nuclear power as a cornerstone of its future energy mix.

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