Kazakhstan discusses third NPP project with potential vendors, including CNNC - Atomic Energy Agency

ASTANA. July 31 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan is participating in discussions with the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and other potential vendors on the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP) with varying capacities, the country's Atomic Energy Agency reported.

"On the topic of building a third NPP, there are ongoing discussions with potential vendors, including the China National Nuclear Corporation, about a high-capacity reactor as well as reactors with low to medium capacity," the agency said in a statement.

Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar said on Thursday that the third plant could be built by the CNNC, which will also act as contractor for the second NPP.

As reported, Kazakhstan's first NPP will be built by Rosatom, which has already signed a roadmap with Kazakhstan for the construction of two VVER-1200 reactor units. The construction of the plant will take approximately 11 years and could be complete by 2035-2036. To finance construction, Kazakhstan is looking into the possibility of attracting state export funding from Russia.

Kazakhstan is planning to build a total of three NPPs as part of its nuclear energy project.