Kazakhstan has chosen Russian state nuclear firm Rosatom and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) to lead separate consortiums in constructing the country’s first nuclear power plants since 1999. The move advances Kazakhstan’s plan to shift from coal dependence to nuclear energy, targeting 2.4 gigawatts of capacity by 2035.
Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Agency endorsed Rosatom’s bid to build a two-reactor plant in Ulken village, 400 km from Almaty. The facility will use advanced VVER-1200 reactors—Russia’s flagship Generation 3+ technology. Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev hailed the design as “the most efficient in the world,” with financing talks underway for Russian state export loans.
A parallel agreement will see CNNC develop a second plant, underscoring Kazakhstan’s energy pivot toward Beijing. Agency Chairman Almasadam Satqaliev emphasized China’s “complete technological and industrial base” as critical for Kazakhstan’s energy transition. CNNC has not yet disclosed project specifics.
As the world’s largest uranium producer, Kazakhstan currently relies on coal for 70% of its electricity. Nuclear expansion aims to cut emissions while leveraging domestic uranium resources. The referendum-backed initiative marks a strategic shift, with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev calling nuclear power “essential for sustainable development.”
Kazakhstan deepens energy ties with both Moscow and Beijing despite Western sanctions on Russia. The deals follow Vladimir Putin’s November 2023 visit and new oil/gas agreements with China this February. French and South Korean bids were passed over, signaling Astana’s alignment with Eurasian partners.