Kazakhstan discussing South Korean companies' possible participation in constructing NPP
ASTANA. Oct 28 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan's Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev last week held a series of talks with South Korean energy companies on their possibly participating in an international consortium to construct a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, the Energy Ministry's press service said.
"Kazakhstan's energy minister spoke with representatives of South Korean companies about their possibly participating in an international consortium, whose creation is currently being studied in Kazakhstan as one of the possible models for implementing the project to construct a NPP. [Energy Minister] Satkaliyev said that the final decision on the matter would be reached in 2025," the press service said.
Satkaliyev specifically held talks with representatives of Doosan Enerbility, Korea Hydro&Nuclear Power (KHNP), Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC), and Samsung C&T.
Satkaliyev visited South Korea from October 22 to 25.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev earlier said that an international consortium of companies should undertake constructing a NPP. Kazakhstan would reportedly decide in 2025 on the choice of companies, technologies, and contractors to construct the NPP.
A nationwide referendum on constructing a NPP was held in Kazakhstan on October 6, resulting in the country's citizens approving the construction.
Kazakhstan is currently considering high-power reactor technologies from four suppliers, namely technologies from France, China, Russia, and South Korea. The Energy Ministry said that the average cost of one power unit is $5 billion.