Kazakhstan plans to develop a new town in the village of Ulken, on the shores of Lake Balkhash, to accommodate up to 33,000 people working in the nuclear industry as part of the country's first nuclear power plant (NPP) project, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Agency Almassadam Satkaliyev announced.

He made the announcement during a meeting with Kazakh specialists employed at Türkiye's Akkuyu NPP, The Caspian Post reports, citing Qazinform.

According to Satkaliyev, the new residential area will be integrated into the existing village and include housing, schools, healthcare facilities, training and retraining centers, hotels, as well as service and business infrastructure.

Infrastructure constructed to support the NPP's construction will be repurposed after the project is completed to serve local residents and promote business development.

Particular attention will be paid to digitalization, with the aim of transforming Ulken into one of the most technologically advanced communities on the shores of Lake Balkhash. The area's landscape and location are also expected to create opportunities for tourism and recreation.

A specialized training center will also be established to educate, retrain and improve the qualifications of future NPP personnel. Workforce development will involve cooperation with leading Kazakh educational institutions, as well as specialized universities and training centers in China and Russia.

In addition, nuclear industry professionals will have the opportunity to pursue further education through the Bolashak international scholarship program, which will provide dedicated quotas for master's, doctoral and internship programs at leading international nuclear organizations.

Satkaliyev noted that construction of the nuclear power plant would require up to 15,000 workers during peak activity. These would include civil engineers, welders, installers, electricians, automation specialists and quality-control experts.

Once operational, the plant is expected to employ approximately 2,000 specialists, including nuclear engineers, reactor operators, nuclear and radiation safety experts, and maintenance personnel.

He added that Ulken's development would create new employment and career opportunities for young people, while housing would be provided for specialists working in the nuclear sector.