Russia’s Rosatom Discusses Potential Involvement in Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Power Plant Construction

Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko announced that discussions are underway regarding the participation of Russia"s nuclear corporation Rosatom in the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan.

Matviyenko and a delegation from the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament, are now on an official visit to Astana, The Caspian Post reports, citing Russian media.

"Of course, we went over the entire agenda of Russian-Kazakh relations. <...> Kazakhstan is interested in Rosatom's participation in the construction of a nuclear power plant, but there is no decision yet, it is being discussed," she said after a meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The Federation Council Speaker recalled that Rosatom has extensive experience in building safe and reliable nuclear power plants in many countries, but it is up to the Kazakh authorities to decide what company to cooperate with.

Matviyenko added that she discussed humanitarian cooperation with the leader of Kazakhstan, including in the field of education. According to her, Tokayev confirmed that Kazakhstan sees Russia as a strategic partner and reliable ally.

"This is already a guarantee that all agreements will be fulfilled and a new horizon, new prospects will open up for us <...>, our mutually beneficial cooperation will actively continue," she said.

In Astana Matviyenko also held a meeting with the Chairman of the Senate (upper house) of the Kazakh parliament Maulen Ashimbayev, following which a cooperation plan for 2025-2027 was signed. The parties also discussed the results of the state visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Astana, which took place in late November.