ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 21. Construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan can be completed in 2024, and launch in 2035, said General Director of Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants LLP Timur Zhantikin, Trend reports.
As he mentioned, preparatory work is presently in progress. The final decision on building a nuclear power plant has yet to be taken.
He estimates that the documentation will take about five years to complete. The project will be divided into two stages: the first will handle technical concerns, and the second will involve building.
Zhantikin stated that the construction of a nuclear power plant will cost between $10 and $15 billion. International financial institutions will supply funding.
In terms of the location of the nuclear power plant, he stated that two areas are currently being considered: East Kazakhstan and Southern Kazakhstan.
As previously stated by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan will submit to a referendum the issue of building a nuclear power plant in the country. He noted that the development of nuclear power is a particularly important economic and political issue.
Kazakhstan ranks second in the world in terms of proven reserves of natural uranium. About 14 percent of all proven world reserves are concentrated in the depths of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The country's total proven reserves are estimated at more than 700,000 tons of uranium.
In 2009, Kazakhstan came out on top in terms of uranium mining in the world and continues to maintain its leading position in the world market. Kazakhstan produces about 40 percent of the world's uranium production. In 2021, the volume of uranium production amounted to 21,800 tons, according to the results of 2022—21,300 tons.