Kazakhstan Accelerates Nuclear Projects to Transform Energy Future

Kazakhstan is advancing its nuclear energy initiatives as part of a strategy to strengthen its energy future and work towards carbon neutrality by 2060. The nation, which is the world’s leading producer of uranium, is leveraging its substantial reserves and cutting-edge research to develop nuclear power and medical innovations. Despite possessing around one million tonnes of uranium—enough to sustain production for several decades—Kazakhstan currently does not produce nuclear power for its own grid. The reliance on coal for approximately 70% of its electricity underscores the urgency of transitioning to nuclear energy.

Kazakhstan is entering what officials describe as its second nuclear revival. The Soviet-era BN-350 fast reactor, located near Aktau, was taken offline in 1999 and is now in the process of decommissioning. Plans are underway to construct several nuclear power plants, including one in collaboration with Russia’s Rosatom and two additional projects with Chinese partners. While details of the Chinese-backed projects remain under negotiation, they are intended to diversify Kazakhstan’s energy mix.

The first plant, officially named the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant, is expected to be operational by 2035. This facility will feature two Generation III+ pressurized water reactors with a combined capacity of 2.4 gigawatts (GW). Site selection for the project is currently underway, focusing on a location in the seismically active Almaty region near the village of Ulken. Asset Makhambetov, Deputy Chairman of Kazakhstan’s Agency for Atomic Energy, emphasized that the project incorporates advanced safety systems designed to prevent incidents akin to the Fukushima and Chernobyl disasters.

Kazakhstan is also prioritizing radioactive waste management. The Agency for Atomic Energy is collaborating with technology providers to reduce waste volumes, a critical aspect of sustainable nuclear energy development.

Emerging Nuclear Innovation Hubs

As Kazakhstan enhances its nuclear capabilities, it is simultaneously expanding the ecosystem surrounding these developments. Having mined uranium for over 50 years, the country has established a solid foundation for nuclear research. Earlier this year, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced plans to create two science cities in Almaty and Kurchatov, dedicated to nuclear energy and medical advancements. Key institutions such as the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Almaty and the National Nuclear Centre in Kurchatov will spearhead these initiatives.

The Institute of Nuclear Physics has recently begun exporting technetium-99 radiopharmaceuticals to Kyrgyzstan, with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency. These radiopharmaceuticals are essential in medical imaging, particularly for cancer and cardiac diagnostics. Makhambetov noted that the long-term strategy for the nuclear industry in Kazakhstan is being developed up to 2050, aiming to integrate nuclear expertise into broader public benefits.

Expanding the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Kazakhstan’s current focus is on uranium mining, fuel production, and technology exports. The national operator, Kazatomprom, handles the initial stages of the nuclear fuel cycle, including exploration and mining. The company is now looking to expand its operations into conversion and enrichment, further solidifying its role in the global supply chain.

Although Kazatomprom plans to reduce uranium production by 10% next year, CEO Meirzhan Yussupov remains optimistic. He stated, “We are sticking to our value-over-volume strategy. There is increasing interest in nuclear energy, given the pledge by more than 20 countries to triple their nuclear capacity by 2050.” Analysts are projecting a structural deficit of uranium in the coming decade, which may enhance demand for Kazakhstan’s resources.

Kazakhstan’s competitive edge lies in its extensive reserves, suitable for in-situ recovery (ISR) mining—a method that is both cost-effective and less invasive than traditional extraction techniques. The country’s uranium production is now almost entirely reliant on ISR, with the Ulba Metallurgical Plant reaching full production capacity of 200 tonnes last year.

Kazakhstan has a longstanding commitment to peaceful nuclear initiatives since gaining independence. The country voluntarily dismantled the nuclear arsenal it inherited from the Soviet Union and closed the Semipalatinsk test site after over 400 nuclear tests. Furthermore, Kazakhstan has been instrumental in establishing the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone and initiated a UN resolution in 2015 advocating for the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

Today, Kazakhstan hosts the world’s Low Enriched Uranium Bank at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant, managed by the International Atomic Energy Agency. This facility serves as a physical reserve of reactor-grade uranium for member states facing supply disruptions. Operational since 2019, the bank stores 90 tonnes of uranium hexafluoride supplied by Kazakhstan and France, although it has yet to be utilized.

Through a combination of safe reactor design, international collaboration, and innovative research, Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a significant player in the global nuclear energy landscape, paving the way for a sustainable and secure energy future.