Kazakhstan is set to begin construction of its first nuclear power plant (NPP) in 2029, according to Almasadam Satkaliyev, head of the country’s Nuclear Energy Agency.

Speaking to the press in Astana on Friday, Satkaliyev described the planned start as “the first concrete,” noting that the timeline depends on the composition of equipment and project work. “It is hard to tell for now. We’re aiming for 2029 based on Russian projections,” he said.

The plant will be constructed by Russian state nuclear company Rosatom, which has already begun preliminary work at the site near Ulken village in the Almaty district. On August 8, Rosatom specialists started drilling the first exploration well and collecting soil samples in preparation for the project.

Kazakhstan and Rosatom have signed a roadmap to build two VVER-1200 reactor units, with construction expected to take approximately 11 years, potentially completing the project by 2035–2036.

Looking ahead, the Kazakh government indicated that second and third nuclear power plants may be developed with the involvement of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), reflecting the country’s plans to expand its nuclear energy capacity in the coming decades.

The NPP project marks a significant step in Kazakhstan’s strategy to diversify its energy sources and strengthen its position in nuclear power development within Central Asia. (ILKHA)