Kazakhstan establishes atomic energy agency

ASTANA. March 18 (Interfax) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed an executive order establishing an Atomic Energy Agency in the country, the Kazakh presidential press service said on Tuesday.

The Atomic Energy Agency was established as a state body directly subordinate and accountable to the president, with the transfer of the functions and powers of the Energy Ministry to him in the areas of subsoil use in terms of uranium mining, use of atomic energy, ensuring radiation safety of the population, creating and operating the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone, the document said.

"To determine the agency as the legal successor of the rights and obligations of the Kazakh Energy Ministry within the limits of transferred functions and powers," it said.

The same executive order instructs the presidential administration to submit to the president for consideration, draft regulations on the agency and its structure jointly with the chairperson of the agency, and proposals to redistribute the number of staff from the Energy Ministry and corresponding subordinate organizations to the agency jointly with the government.

The control over the execution of this order is entrusted to the Presidential Executive Office.

Almasadam Satkaliyev was appointed chairperson of the Kazakh Atomic Energy Agency.

"To appoint Almasadam Maidanovich Satkaliyev chairperson of the Kazakh Atomic Energy Agency, relieving him of his previous position," the executive order published on the presidential website said.

Prior to his appointment, Satkaliyev, 54, has served as energy minister since April 2023. In different years, he held the positions of deputy minister of energy and mineral resources (2007), president of Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company JSC (2009-2011). Since 2011, he has worked at Samruk-Kazyna JSC and Samruk-Energo, and he has headed the fund for the last two years. He was relieved of his post the previous day.