Russia has commenced preliminary work on Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant, marking a significant milestone for the world’s largest uranium producer and a key geopolitical development in Central Asia, where Moscow, Beijing, and Europe are competing for influence.
According to a joint statement from Kazakhstan’s and Russia’s nuclear agencies on Friday , engineering surveys are now underway to determine the optimal site and prepare project documentation for the large-capacity plant. The facility will be built near the half-abandoned village of Ulken, on the shores of Lake Balkhash.
Kazakhstan’s nuclear agency chief, Almasadam Satkaliev, described the project as a “strategic choice” and a catalyst for long-term economic growth, both regionally and nationally.
While Kazakhstan is a global leader in uranium production, supplying 43 percent of the world’s output and ranking as the European Union’s third-largest raw uranium supplier, it continues to face domestic electricity shortages.
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The decision to partner with Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, follows a competitive bidding process that also included France and South Korea. Authorities said Russia and China offered “objectively the best bids.” China is expected to announce two additional nuclear projects in Kazakhstan by year’s end.
The planned reactor will have an operational lifespan of 60 years, with an option for a 20-year extension. Nuclear energy remains a sensitive topic in Kazakhstan due to Soviet-era nuclear tests that exposed approximately 1.5 million people to radiation.
The project also underscores Moscow’s continued push to cement its presence in Central Asia, as Russia pursues additional nuclear facilities in Uzbekistan and a small reactor in Kyrgyzstan, while Beijing deepens investments under its Belt and Road Initiative.