Kazakhstan's 2nd NPP Likely to Be Built Near Formerly Secret Kurchatov Town

Kazakhstan is considering Kurchatov, a town that once served as the secret hub for the Semipalatinsk Test Site, as the potential site for its second nuclear power plant.

Kurchatov is being considered as a potential location. In general, it’s up to a commission to decide. A necessary analysis will be conducted, said Kazakh Energy Minister Almassadam Satkaliyev.

The speaker recalled the Head of State’s instruction to establish a nuclear cluster in Kazakhstan, stressing that ‘the country needs several nuclear power plants to tap into its full nuclear potential’.

Today, we were tasked to choose a location for a second nuclear power plant, which we will do based on energy balance forecast, proximity to a load center, the size of the national power grid, said Satkaliyev.

Satkaliyev also said that there may be a simultaneous construction of two nuclear power plants due to the electricity shortage facing Kazakhstan unless the country builds up its power capacity.

Creation of a nuclear cluster allows to add new capacities, reduce the carbon footprint, contributing to our green commitments… We have all the necessary resources. Construction (of NPPs) will be carried out at different locations, said the minister.

Earlier, Energy Minister Almassadam Satkaliyev had ruled out holding a referendum on construction of a second nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan.