Rosatom Signs Contract to Build Nuclear Power Plant in Kazakhstan

Rosatom will lead an international consortium and oversee the entire project

Rosatom and Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants (KAES) have signed a contract to construct two power units of the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant with a total capacity of 2.4 GW. The agreement was concluded at the Eastern Economic Forum, reports Interfax.

Rosatom will head the international consortium and be responsible for the entire project – from design and equipment procurement to construction, commissioning, and handover of the plant to the customer.

The license and construction of the nuclear power plant are planned to begin in 2027. Commissioning is expected within ten years, according to Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev and Chairman of Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Agency Almasadam SATKALIEV.

Currently, specialists are studying the site of the future plant near the village of Ulken in the Almaty region. These works are scheduled to be completed in 2027, after which preparation of the necessary construction permit documents will begin. In the near future, Rosatom is also expected to form an international consortium of companies that will supply equipment for the plant.

The cost of the plant was previously estimated at about $16.4 billion. Approximately $14.4 billion of this amount will go toward building the power units, while another $2 billion will be allocated for infrastructure, safety systems, and fuel reserves for the warranty period. In May, Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on cooperation terms for the construction of the nuclear power plant. The parties also agreed to provide Kazakhstan with a Russian state export credit to finance the project.

The launch of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant was previously planned for 2035–2036. In total, the republic intends to build three nuclear power plants.

Photo: Press Service of the Atomic Energy Agency.

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