Nuclear Power in Kazakhstan

What’s happening 

Kazakhstan is planning to build its first nuclear power plant. Finally, after years of debate in 2024’s referendum a decision was made. With over 70% of the country's population supporting this initiative as the government claims. The nuclear development of the country includes 3 nuclear power plants. One of them will be created in collaboration with a Russian governmental company “Rosatom” which has launched 400 nuclear projects. The other two will be built by a Chinese corporation. 

Geography 

In February 2025, the government officially declared that the first nuclear power plant will be placed in Zhambyl district of Almaty region, specifically in the town of Ulken. Its area is 2.17 km² and its population barely reaches 2 thousand. Ulken is based on the shore on the Balkhas lake, which is the largest lake in Central Asia and the 15th largest in the world and located in arid east-central Kazakhstan. 

Ulken on the map of Kazakhstan

Why this matters: 

Balkhash is already in a really vulnerable state. The Ile River is the main inflow of the water in the western basin contributing 80-90% of the total influx. A global management consulting firm McKinsey has marked Balkhash as an area for future research and they have calculated that Lake Balkhash would have water shortages of 1.9 billion cubic meters in 2030. The amount of emissions and salinity of the basin has increased which shows the degradation of the lake. The nuclear power plant will need a lot of water and energy and this will contribute to the rate of salination and decrease of the water. Although nuclear power plants don’t directly emit air pollutants, the processes of mining uranium and construction of the plant require a lot of energy. Those emissions from burning fossils may be associated with the waste that nuclear power plants generate. Moreover, nuclear plants create radioactive waste that can stay dangerous for thousands of years to human health.

Risk & Dependency 

It’s the first plant ever built by the independent government of Kazakhstan. Its past nuclear development was tied to the uranium extraction bases built by the USSR in Semipalatinsk, which resulted in unsafe practices and contamination of the area with radiation. Hence, the country might be vulnerable to lack of experience increasing the risks of technical failures. 

In order to minimise these risks Kazakhstan has started a collaboration with Russia and China on this project, increasing the country's dependency on foreign stakeholders. Miscommunication among the stakeholders could result in really high costs for the whole country. 

Statistics: 

• Kazakhstan has 14% of the world's uranium resources and in 2024 produced about 23,270 tU.

• In 2009 it became the world's leading uranium producer, with almost 28% of world production. Today Kazakhstan produces over 40% of the world's uranium.

• The total investment in the first nuclear power plant is estimated at $14-15 billion and 1 billion dollars allocated for social projects 

• 97 percent of residents of the village Ulken participated in the voting at referendum, and about 90 percent of them voted in favor, which gave the project a strong public mandate, claims Chairman of the Atomic Energy Agency Almasadam Satkaliyev.

Positive consequences: 

The village looks deserted and empty. Many of the residents have moved and migrated to bigger cities. There is only one school and pharmacy for the whole village and no hospitals. Young students in Ulken don’t see their future there but many of them claim that with the construction of the new project the situation might change. Many locals believe that the town will prosper and there will be an inflow of new students and professionals. 

The construction of the nuclear power plant aims to form a new generation of high-skilled workers, strengthen scientific research and create an environment for technological progress. Nuclear power plants in a successful management will lead to economic growth and improved infrastructure. One of the most important results of the nuclear power plant is the creation of new job opportunities, which the residents of Ulken anticipate. 

Potential solutions

• There should be strict environmental guidelines to protect Balkhash’s unique nature, biodiversity and water supply. 

• Maximised public transparency will allow to build trusting relationships with the stakeholders. 

• There should be clear communication with all the partners to ensure the project's success. 

How we’re thinking about this

Kazakhstan is facing pressure as the issues with water security and energy security arise. It has the potential to reach great results using its advantageous geopolitical location and natural resources. But it’s important to remember that there are always risks which require a great amount of management. Based on this in my opinion the power plant has the opportunity to generate economic growth only if it will be managed correctly and without compromising environmental stability.