Energy
Low-carbon Energy Sources
Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants LLP (hereinafter – KNPP LLP) was established in order to ensure the development of a pre-project and design documentation for the construction of nuclear power plants, as well as the organization of work on the construction of nuclear power plants in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The current status of implementation of the NPP construction project
In 2022, the Marketing section of the feasibility study was developed and updated. In May last year, at a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission on the Development of the Nuclear Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the proposals of KNPP LLP in choosing an area near the village of Ulken for the construction of a nuclear power plant were supported.
Work has also been carried out on the selection of potential vendors of nuclear power plants, a corresponding “shortlist” has been compiled, which includes proposals from the Chinese company CNNC, Korean KHNP, Russian Rosatom and French EDF.
Information and explanatory work
In 2022, 668 materials were released in the Kazakh media on the topic of nuclear energy, including 87 television, 581 print and Internet. 441 materials were published with the direct organizational, consulting, expert and technical participation of KNPP LLP (on TV – 54, in newspapers and Internet resources – 387).
In July 2022, a professional sociological study was conducted by order of the KNPP LLP to determine the attitude of the country’s population to nuclear energy and directly plans for the construction of nuclear power plants. The results of the 2022 survey showed an increase in the level of public acceptance compared to 2021.
The number of people who are aware of nuclear energy has doubled in a year – from 19 to 38%. However, 48% of respondents believe that Kazakhstan needs to build its own nuclear power plant. The number of opponents of the NPP construction project has decreased to 44%.
Plans for 2023
KNPP LLP is planning for 2023:
holding public hearings in Ulken village and adoption of the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the choice of the NPP construction area;
preparation, coordination and adoption of the resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the choice of the vendor;
determination of the scope of work and approval of the Terms of Reference for engineering surveys and development of feasibility studies.
Supporters of building a NPP in Kazakhstan
