On June 16, 2025, Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Agency explained why Russian state corporation Rosatom was selected to lead the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant, according to Zakon.kz.
The agency highlighted that Rosatom is a global pioneer in nuclear technology and possesses the world’s most advanced and experienced nuclear engineering tradition.
“The world’s first nuclear power plant began operating in Obninsk in 1954. It’s worth noting that the first industrial fast-neutron reactor, the BN-350, was built using Russian technology and operated in our city of Aktau, on the shores of the Caspian Sea,” the agency stated.
All proposed reactors, they added, have a designed service life of 60 years. However, not all have been tested in real-world operations. For example, while the Korean APR1000 and French EPR1200 reactors are still unproven, the Russian VVER-1200, Chinese HPR1000, and Korean APR1400 have all been successfully deployed. Furthermore, Russia and China are currently building over 20 reactors both domestically and abroad, while France and South Korea are constructing just a few: two APR1400 units in South Korea, APR1000 reactors in the Czech Republic, and EPR1600 units in the UK.
The agency also emphasized that Russia and China have broader experience participating in international nuclear consortiums and can integrate equipment from different manufacturers into a single project effectively.
“At present, only Russia and China can independently offer a full range of services - from financing and localization of the nuclear fuel cycle to workforce training, design, construction, and spent fuel management. Russia, in particular, has extensive experience in building nuclear plants abroad, with over 20 reactors constructed or under construction in China, Turkey, Bangladesh, Belarus, India, Iran, and Egypt. These projects also demonstrate Russia’s ability to adapt to national regulations and work closely with local industries,” the agency noted.
Importantly, the agency clarified that Rosatom is not currently on any international sanctions lists.
“In case of future risks related to sanctions in specific countries, we will implement appropriate contractual safeguards - similar to those already used by Kazakhstani companies in other projects. These include sanctions clauses and legal mechanisms that provide protection. Moreover, nuclear energy — being tied to climate goals and humanitarian needs — is generally excluded from sanctions regimes. It is clear that the nuclear power plant will be built in Kazakhstan, with the involvement of international partners, and will be entirely owned by Kazakhstan. In all cases, Kazakhstan remains the ultimate beneficiary of the project,” the statement concluded.
On June 14, 2025, it was announced that Rosatom will lead the consortium responsible for building Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant.
Source: CentralasianLIGHT.org
Date: June 16, 2025