Kazakhstan Initiates Early Construction Phase at Nation's First Nuclear Power Station
In August 2025, the construction of Kazakhstan's first high-capacity nuclear power plant commenced near the village of Ulken in the Almaty Region. The project, scheduled for commissioning between 2035 and 2036, is led by Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear corporation.
The project has a strong public mandate, with over 70% support in the last year's national referendum. In the village of Ulken specifically, 97% of residents participated in the referendum, and about 90% voted in favor of the project.
Rosatom has been appointed to lead an international consortium for the plant's construction, following negotiations with top global reactor manufacturers. The future nuclear power plant will use modern generation III+ pressurized water reactors (PWRs), each with a capacity of 1,200 MW.
The construction project is being implemented with the aim of minimizing environmental and man-made risks and ensuring compliance with national and international safety standards. Rosatom specialists have started drilling the first exploratory well and collecting soil samples as part of the engineering surveys. At least 50 wells, each ranging in depth from 30 to 120 meters, will be drilled during this stage of the engineering surveys.
The surveys aim to minimize environmental and man-made risks and lay the foundation for effective plant design. The Atomic Energy Agency reported that engineering surveys have begun to determine the optimal site and prepare design documentation for the nuclear power plant.
The plant will use advanced VVER-1200 reactors developed by Rosatom, known for their enhanced safety features and operational efficiency. The reactors have a 60-year service life, which can be extended by an additional 20 years.
The initial 18-month survey phase will finalize the site, followed by the design and construction stages. The total investment cost is estimated between 14 and 15 billion USD, with an additional 1 billion USD allocated for accompanying social infrastructure such as schools and kindergartens.
The project emphasizes thorough engineering and geological investigations before construction, including drilling at least 50 boreholes up to 120 meters deep to assess critical safety parameters like seismic resilience and hydrology. The involvement of Rosatom brings extensive international experience in nuclear safety and reliability, which will guide the design and implementation phases.
It is worth noting that Rosatom was chosen from a shortlist that included China National Nuclear Corporation, Électricité de France, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power. The construction project may also involve Chinese National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) in a future second plant.
The ceremonial start of preliminary activities for the high-capacity nuclear power plant took place on Aug. 8, attended by Atomic Energy Agency Chairman Almassadam Satkaliyev and Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev. The event marked a significant step forward in Kazakhstan's pursuit of sustainable energy solutions.
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- The nuclear power plant under construction in Kazakhstan, led by Rosatom, will utilize modern technology in the form of Generation III+ pressurized water reactors (PWRs), known for their advanced safety features and operational efficiency.
- The international consortium, appointed to construct the new nuclear power plant, is composed of top global reactor manufacturers who aim to implement technology that ensures minimal environmental and man-made risks and adherence to national and international safety standards.
