Kazakhstan weighs nuclear partners: China, Russia, or a third option

Kazakhstan is on the verge of awarding a major contract for its first-ever nuclear power plant, with bidders from China, Russia, France, and South Korea still in the running.

But while technical capacity matters, the real contest may come down to money and politics.

Two camps inside Kazakhstan are influencing the decision. One, led by financial and economic officials, favors China’s CNNC for offering the lowest cost and strong financing. The other, made up of nuclear experts and engineers, prefers Russia’s Rosatom, citing decades of cooperation and technical compatibility.

However, Russia’s recent delays on a separate coal power plant project have raised concerns. 

Some observers believe the nuclear contract may now be tied to the future of these coal plants—an expensive and globally unpopular investment. China appears more willing to take on the full package, giving it an edge.

Still, doubts remain over CNNC’s claim it can build the nuclear plant for just $5.5 billion. Experts say that’s unrealistically low, suggesting the real cost could be more than double.

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