Kazakhstan has made a decisive move towards the development of nuclear energy by establishing a dedicated agency under the President's office.
According to Kazakh energy expert Petr Svoik, this step compensates for years of hesitation and inaction since Russia’s initial proposal to build a nuclear power plant back in 2019.
“This agency is not just another bureaucratic structure. Its very existence under the President - rather than the government - shows a serious political will to fast-track nuclear projects,” Svoik said in a comment. He emphasized that for several years, Kazakhstan had delayed responding to Russia’s offer, and the creation of this agency is a signal that the country is now committed to pushing forward with nuclear energy at an accelerated pace.
Svoik noted that the President of Kazakhstan is now speaking not about one, but three nuclear power plants, marking a significant strategic shift. The new agency is expected to take charge of this multi-station initiative.
When it comes to the location of these power plants, the choice is largely defined by Kazakhstan’s unique energy geography. As Svoik explained, the country's power system is divided into three main zones: the northern zone, which is integrated with the Russian grid in the Southern Urals, Siberia, and Altai; the southern zone, which is part of the Central Asian energy system; and the western zone, linked with the Lower Volga and partially the Southern Urals. While these zones are connected, their interconnectivity remains weak, prompting the need for geographically strategic placement of nuclear facilities.
The first station is planned in Balkhash. "The decision to build in Balkhash is not just because of the lake," Svoik said. "This location lies roughly in the middle between the northern and southern energy zones and was once a site selected by Soviet authorities for a large thermal power station." While that project was never completed, critical infrastructure - including a major substation - remains in place, making the site ideal for a new nuclear facility.
Lake Balkhash. Photo credit: inkstickmedia.com
The second location is likely to be the city of Kurchatov in eastern Kazakhstan. Svoik pointed out that this city sits along a major energy corridor from north to south and is home to the National Nuclear Center. “Kurchatov is not only geographically suitable but already hosts scientific infrastructure that would support a new plant,” he explained, adding that the location would strengthen the country’s north-south power link.
The third project is expected to be developed in Aktau, in Kazakhstan’s western energy zone. According to Svoik, the city has historical precedent: during the Soviet era, a nuclear reactor in Aktau provided electricity, heat, and desalinated water. Although that reactor has long been decommissioned, Svoik believes a modern, small modular reactor could be floated in via the Volga River, moored near the city, and used for power, heat, and desalination. “This would be a highly effective solution for the region’s needs,” he said.
On the question of contractors, Svoik noted that Russia’s Rosatom and two major Chinese state-owned corporations are the leading contenders. He believes they are likely to form a partnership. “Nuclear energy is, to a large extent, about politics - probably two-thirds politics and only one-third actual engineering,” Svoik commented. In his view, political alignment between Russia and China makes a joint venture plausible.
Getty Images: zhongguo
He also discussed the roles of other international players. South Korea, he noted, has submitted interest, but mainly acts as a manufacturing extension of the American nuclear sector. "The U.S. industry fell behind after the collapse of the USSR, and South Korea’s involvement is likely to be limited to auxiliary roles," he said.
France, according to Svoik, is another serious contender with a strong nuclear tradition. However, he cautioned that recent French projects, such as the one in Finland, have been plagued by delays and budget overruns. Despite this, France may still be offered a share of the work, based on a combination of political and technical considerations.
“The race to build Kazakhstan’s nuclear future has begun,” Svoik concluded. “And it will be driven as much by diplomacy and geopolitics as by kilowatts and concrete.”
