Kazakhstan: Government confirms site for second nuclear power plant

Kazakhstan’s nuclear power plans are beginning to take clearer shape. After the government selected Russia last year as the supplier for its first nuclear power plant, it has now confirmed a site for a second plant. China is expected to build the second plant in Zhambyl District. Kazakhstan is the world’s leading uranium producer, but it has no experience with commercial nuclear power generation.

Kazakhstan’s international news agency reported that the government has officially selected a site for the country’s second nuclear power plant.  Like the first plant, the second will be located in Zhambyl District in Almaty Region, in southeastern Kazakhstan. Nuclear power plants are expected to help the country transition to cleaner electricity generation and reduce its use of fossil fuels.

“At a meeting of the State Commission on the Nuclear Industry, a second prospective site for a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan was identified. In other words, our second plant will also be built in the south of the country, which is currently facing an energy deficit. The new plant will ensure reliable and stable energy supplies,” said Almasadam Satkaliyev, head of the Kazakhstan Agency for Atomic Energy, in October 2025.

Last year, Kazakhstan selected the village of Ulken, on the shore of Lake Balkhash, as the site for its first nuclear power plant. It is also in Zhambyl District. The government also selected Russia’s Rosatom as the supplier, with a VVER-1200 nuclear reactor with an installed capacity of 1114 MW (net). China’s CNNC, with its HPR-1000 reactor, is in the running to supply the second nuclear power plant. It ranked second in the supplier comparison, ahead of France’s EDF and South Korea’s KHNP.

“As for China’s CNNC as a supplier, no final decision has been made. However, based on the proposals submitted, we consider it the preferred supplier,” Satkaliyev added.

5% of generation from nuclear power by 2035

Before deciding to build nuclear power plants in the country, the Kazakh government held a referendum. Voters clearly backed nuclear construction (71% of voters, with turnout at 64%), although criticism and concerns also arose in the country over Russia’s involvement as a supplier. Nuclear power plants could ensure Kazakhstan’s energy security, as the country is currently the world’s largest uranium producer. In addition to mining, the country is also exploring the possibility of producing nuclear fuel.

Kazakhstan is targeting 2400 MWe of newly installed nuclear capacity and aims to reach a 5% share of nuclear energy in total electricity generation by 2035. Alongside large reactors, it is also considering deploying small modular reactors (SMRs) to replace coal-fired plants nearing the end of their service life.