Astana, 4 November, . Kazakhstan is working out the construction of its second nuclear power plant, Moiynkum, with China National Nuclear Corporation, while the first, the Balkhash NPP, will be built by a Russian consortium led by Rosatom, energy minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said at a press conference in the Government.
According to the minister, the parameters of the deal and the timing are being discussed with the Chinese side, and the details are still at the negotiation stage. “But we believe the projects should be completed by 2035,” Akkenzhenov said. As Kazinform writes, the Moiynkum plant is to be built on the shore of Lake Balkhash in the Zhambyl district of Almaty region. According to staffing estimates cited by the agency, building one two-unit plant will require about 15,000 workers at its peak and about 1,800 people to operate it.
The cost of the second plant, its capacity and the reactor model were not named at the press conference.
What it means: Kazakhstan is building nuclear power with the two largest technology suppliers at once, Russia and China, and wants both plants by 2035.
Who benefits: Rosatom and China National Nuclear Corporation, which get long-term orders, and the power system that will receive the new capacity; the terms of the contract with the Chinese side have not been disclosed.
Background: According to Kazinform, the President had earlier announced the signing of a comprehensive cooperation agreement to start construction of the Moiynkum NPP.
