Kazakhstan won't delay issue of constructing second NPP - First Deputy PM Sklyar

ASTANA. June 17 (Interfax) - The Kazakh government will not delay the issue of constructing a second nuclear power plant, and its construction may proceed in parallel with the first one, Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar said.

"We plan not to delay the construction of the second NPP," Sklyar told reporters on the sidelines of the Central Asia-China Summit in Astana.

When asked whether the second NPP might be completed before the first, he responded: "It's possible. Everything will depend on the technologies and the companies involved in construction."

At the same time, Sklyar did not rule out that both plants might be constructed simultaneously. "That could also happen," he said.

The deadline for deciding on the second NPP is set for autumn, he said.

"I think by autumn. We won't delay. I believe some figures and data will be available by autumn. Though it might happen even earlier," he said.

Last week, Kazakhstan's Atomic Energy Agency Chairman Almasadam Satkaliyev said Russia's Rosatom would build the first NPP, while the second is planned in partnership with China's CNNC.

Kazakhstan plans to build a cluster of three nuclear power plants, for which a comprehensive plan should be drafted in the second quarter of 2025, the Energy Ministry has said.