Kazakhstan signs contract with Rosatom to construct first NPP
On Sept. 3 in Vladivostok, Russia, Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants (KNPP), the future operator of Kazakhstan’s planned nuclear power plants, and Atomstroyexport, a Rosatom subsidiary, signed a contract to design, supply and construct Kazakhstan’s first NPP.
NPP project takes shape
The signing took place during the 11th Eastern Economic Forum in the presence of Almassadam Satkaliyev, chairman of Kazakhstan’s Agency for Atomic Energy, and Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom.
The Agency for Atomic Energy said the project is now moving into implementation.
«The signing of the contract marks the transition of Kazakhstan’s first NPP project to a new, practical stage. In accordance with the intergovernmental agreement of May 28, 2026, the parties will continue the procedures stipulated by the agreement, including obtaining the necessary approval from the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan,» the agency said.
Kazakhstani companies to be involved in construction
Particular emphasis will be placed on local content in the construction of the plant.
«Particular emphasis will be placed on local content in implementing the project to build Kazakhstan’s first NPP, with maximum involvement of Kazakhstani companies, specialists, goods, works and services. The construction of the first NPP should serve as a stimulus for the development of domestic industry, the establishment of new manufacturing capabilities and technologies, and the development of national expertise for the further development of nuclear energy,» the agency said.
Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant will be named Balkhash. The facility will be built near the village of Ulken in the Almaty region, along the shores of Lake Balkhash. The project is being implemented by a consortium led by Rosatom, and the plant is expected to be commissioned between 2035 and 2036.
