Astana is ready to discuss prospects for participation of France's EDF in construction of NPP in Kazakhstan
ASTANA. Nov 1 (Interfax) - Prospects for the participation of the French Electricite de France S.A. (EDF) in the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan will be discussed during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Astana, Kazakh Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev told reporters on Wednesday.
"There are plans to discuss with EDF the possibility of their participation in projects for the development of peaceful nuclear energy use in Kazakhstan. As you know, EDF was included in the short list [of possible reactor suppliers for the potential construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan], and if there is interest from the French delegation, that is, if this issue is raised, we are ready for discussion," the minister said.
As reported, Macron arrived in Astana for an official visit to Kazakhstan on November 1.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed holding a national referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant in the country in September. In his opinion, Kazakhstan, being one of the largest uranium producers in the world, should have its own nuclear generation capability.
The public in Kazakhstan is demanding a referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant. Nuclear industry specialists and the public generally support the idea, but a number of public figures and environmental activists are against it.
Based on the results of previous studies, the territory of the village of Ulken, Almaty region, was selected as the preferred area for the construction of a nuclear power plant. Water from Lake Balkhash would cool the station. Some experts are in favor of building stations with small reactors. In their opinion, if the waters of Lake Balkhash begin to recede, there will not be enough water to build a nuclear power plant there with a high-power reactor.
Currently, Kazakhstan is considering high-power reactor technologies from four suppliers: France, China, Russia and South Korea.
The project to build a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan is being planned by an international pool of investors. According to the country's Ministry of Energy, the work could take up to 10 years, with the cost of one power unit averaging $5 billion.