Kazakhstan Advances Nuclear Power Projects to Secure Energy Future

Kazakhstan is intensifying its efforts to develop nuclear power and medical innovations. By leveraging its vast uranium reserves and fostering strategic partnerships, the Central Asian nation aims to enhance its energy future while striving for carbon neutrality by 2060. With nuclear energy experiencing a global resurgence, Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a significant player in the international energy market.

Currently, Kazakhstan stands as the world’s leading producer of uranium, boasting approximately one million tonnes in reserves that could sustain several decades of production. Despite this wealth, the country does not yet generate nuclear power for its domestic grid. As it continues to rely on coal for around 70% of its electricity, the transition to nuclear energy has become increasingly critical in its energy strategy.

Kazakhstan is embarking on what officials are calling its second nuclear revival. The BN-350 fast reactor, which was operational during the Soviet era near Aktau, was decommissioned in 1999. The government now plans to construct several new nuclear power plants over the coming decades. Notably, it has partnered with Russia’s Rosatom to build the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant, which is set to feature two Generation III+ pressurised water reactors with a combined capacity of 2.4 GW. This facility is expected to begin operations by 2035.

Strategic Developments in Nuclear Energy

Site selection for the Balkhash power plant commenced in August 2025, 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 chosen technology will incorporate “all the passive and active safety systems needed to ensure safe and reliable operation of the reactor.” This approach reflects lessons learned from past nuclear incidents, such as those at Fukushima and Chernobyl.

Kazakhstan is also addressing radioactive waste management, working closely with technology providers to minimize waste volumes. As the country accelerates its nuclear ambitions, it is broadening the ecosystem surrounding these initiatives. Earlier this year, President Tokayev announced plans for two science cities in Almaty and Kurchatov, aimed at advancing nuclear energy and medical research. The Institute of Nuclear Physics in Almaty and the National Nuclear Centre in Kurchatov will spearhead these developments.

The Institute of Nuclear Physics has already begun exporting technetium-99 radiopharmaceuticals to Kyrgyzstan, with backing from the International Atomic Energy Agency. These pharmaceuticals play a crucial role in medical imaging, particularly in cancer and cardiac diagnostics, showcasing how Kazakhstan intends to leverage its nuclear expertise for public benefit.

Expanding the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Kazakhstan’s nuclear strategy currently emphasizes uranium mining, fuel production, and technology exports. The national operator, Kazatomprom, oversees the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle, which includes exploration, mining, and fuel component fabrication. The company plans to expand into additional stages of the cycle, potentially including conversion and enrichment, thereby reinforcing Kazakhstan’s position within global supply chains.

Despite plans to reduce production by 10% in the upcoming year, Kazatomprom’s CEO Meirzhan Yussupov remains optimistic. He noted a growing interest in nuclear energy, driven by commitments from over 20 countries to triple their nuclear capacity by 2050. Yussupov highlighted the increasing demand for energy from major technology firms, as well as predictions of a structural deficit in uranium supply over the next decade.

Kazakhstan’s competitive edge is bolstered by 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 predominantly based on ISR methods. With over six decades of experience in civil nuclear materials and fuel component production, Kazakhstan also exports low-enriched nuclear fuel to reactors in China.

Kazakhstan has a strong history of advancing peaceful nuclear initiatives. Since gaining independence, it voluntarily relinquished its inherited nuclear arsenal and closed the Semipalatinsk test site after over 400 nuclear explosions. The nation played a vital role in establishing the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone and initiated a UN General Assembly resolution in 2015 calling for the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

Kazakhstan is also home to the world’s Low Enriched Uranium Bank at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant, which is managed by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Operational since 2019, the bank includes 90 tonnes of uranium hexafluoride, which remains unused thus far. According to Alexander Khodanov, Sales Director of the Ulba Metallurgical Plant, the storage facilities maintain radiation levels within permissible limits, ensuring no harmful impact on the environment.

Through a combination of safe reactor design, international collaboration, and research innovation, Kazakhstan is strategically positioning itself as a pivotal player in the global nuclear energy landscape.