IAEA endorses Ulken site for potential NPP construction - Ministry

ASTANA. Nov 3 (Interfax) - International Atomic Energy Agency experts have noted the readiness of the Ulken site in Kazakhstan for the construction of a nuclear power plant and are ready to provide a full range of services, in particular, on the selection of safe technologies, Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev said.

"We have very good contact with the IAEA. Their experts note a very high level of competence and readiness on the part of Kazakhstan to carry this out. They are ready to provide a full range of services for support, a selection of safe technologies, and the further disposal of nuclear waste. They noted that, generally speaking the Ulken site is ready and suitable for the construction of a nuclear power plant," Satkaliyev, said.

It was previously reported that from October 2-6, a group of IAEA experts would evaluate the results of studies conducted on nuclear power plant site selection as part of the SEED mission (Site and External Events Design Review Service Mission).

In September, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed holding a national referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant in the country. In his opinion, Kazakhstan, being one of the largest uranium producers in the world, should have its own nuclear generation.

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 previously conducted studies, the territory of the village of Ulken in the Almaty region was selected as the preferred area for the construction of a nuclear power plant. Water from Lake Balkhash would be used to cool the station. Some experts are in favor of building stations with small reactors. In their opinion, if Lake Balkhash begins 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 will be implemented by an international pool of investors. The Ministry of Energy believes that the work could take up to 10 years. One power unit costs approximately $5 billion.