Kazakhstan has officially launched the construction of its first nuclear power plant (NPP) in the Almaty region, marked by a ceremonial capsule laying event.
Chairman of the Kazakh Nuclear Energy Agency Almassadam Satkaliyev underscored the project’s strategic importance during the ceremony, The Caspian Post reports per Kazakh media.
“This initiative will enable Kazakhstan to cultivate a new generation of highly qualified specialists, strengthen its scientific research base, and create conditions for a breakthrough in education and technology,” he said.
Satkaliyev emphasized that the NPP will serve as a key driver of development for the country’s atomic industry, regional infrastructure, industrial innovation, and long-term economic growth.
The project’s total investment is estimated at $14-15 billion, with an additional $1 billion earmarked for social programs. Satkaliyev highlighted the strong public support for the initiative, noting that over 70 percent of Kazakh citizens backed the project in a nationwide referendum last year. The village of Ulken, near the construction site, demonstrated overwhelming approval, with 97 per cent voter turnout and around 90 per cent in favor.
Alexey Likhachev, CEO of the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, also spoke at the event. “We have commenced practical work on this inspiring project - building a powerful, modern nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan has extensive experience in the nuclear sector and is rightly part of the global nuclear elite, not only because it produces about 40 per cent of the world’s uranium. Since the late 1940s, our peoples have collaborated in atomic science and technology. Kazakhstan was home to the world’s first industrial nuclear reactor,” he said.
Drilling rigs at the site collected initial soil samples, which will be sent to Russia for detailed analysis. The ceremony was attended by government officials, media representatives from Kazakhstan and Russia, and residents of Ulken village.
Prior to the event, journalists were shown a scale model of a similar nuclear power plant.
Satkaliyev has previously stated that the construction of Kazakhstan’s first NPP is expected to take approximately seven years.
In February 2025, the government officially approved the Zhambyl district of Almaty region as the construction site, following a decree signed by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.
The village of Ulken, situated in the Zhambyl district, was identified as one of the potential locations for the plant.
In January, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed the government and the Samruk-Kazyna sovereign wealth fund to develop long-term strategies for the atomic industry. He stressed the importance of clear vision, thorough analysis, and the adoption of modern and safe technologies.
On the country’s nuclear future, President Tokayev expects proposals from the government and Parliament regarding the site for a second nuclear plant. Satkaliyev has indicated the possibility of constructing the second plant simultaneously with the first.
Recently, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar announced that China will be responsible for building Kazakhstan’s second and third nuclear power plants.
