The development of nuclear energy is a strategic necessity and a matter of prestige for Kazakhstan. This follows from the interview of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev with the newspaper “Turkistan”.
Tokayev stressed that “without reliable energy generation, Kazakhstan will not be able to transition to a new technological model of the economy. Supercomputers, data centers, and automated industrial complexes require a tremendous amount of energy. This is the reality of the new global technological paradigm.”
Key points from the interview on this topic include:
- Correcting a “historical absurdity” — The President described it as paradox that Kazakhstan, the world’s leading producer of uranium, has no domestic nuclear power plants. Building several nuclear stations will resolve this mismatch and enable the country to generate electricity from its own resources.
- Building a new elite — Large-scale nuclear projects will foster a “new class of technical intelligentsia.” Tokayev believes the rise of highly qualified technical specialists will fundamentally shape the country’s state policy.
- Focus on technical talent — Citing forecasts from global technology leaders, the President noted that technical professions (“blue-collar workers” in high-tech fields) will soon produce many of the world’s new multimillionaires.
Kazakhstan, which accounts for 40-43% of global uranium production, is advancing its nuclear ambitions. Construction of the first nuclear power plant is underway near the village of Ulken on the shores of Lake Balkhash (Almaty region), led by Russia’s Rosatom (using VVER-1200 reactors). The project, estimated at $14-15 billion, is expected to become operational around 2035.
Plans also include a second nuclear power plant, with China’s China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). Discussions continue for additional facilities. ///nCa, 6 January 2025