Russia, Kazakhstan sign $16.5 billion nuclear power agreement

Kazakhstan and Russia have signed a new cooperation programme on nuclear and radiological safety, alongside a major agreement to construct Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant. According to Atomic Energy Agency of Kazakhstan, the programme was signed between Kazakhstan’s nuclear agency and Russia’s federal nuclear and environmental oversight body for the 2026–2030 period. The agreement includes cooperation on licensing procedures, regulatory oversight, inspections, expert consultations, seminars, training programmes and broader coordination on nuclear and radiological safety. The deals were signed during the visit of Vladimir Putin to Astana, where Moscow and Astana also concluded agreements on financing and constructing Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power station. According to Reuters, Russia signed a $16.5 billion agreement to build the plant, with part of the financing expected to come through a major Russian export loan to Kazakhstan. Rosatom will build the reactor complex in the Balkhash region. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and continue until 2035. Kazakhstan, the world’s largest uranium producer, has debated the introduction of nuclear power for more than two decades as authorities seek to diversify electricity production and reduce reliance on coal-fired energy. The country also remains sensitive to nuclear issues because of the long-term environmental and health consequences of Soviet-era nuclear testing conducted at the Semipalatinsk Test Site during the Soviet period. Russia has meanwhile expanded its civilian nuclear partnerships across Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East through Rosatom, offering reactor technology, financing packages and technical cooperation despite Western sanctions linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The post Russia, Kazakhstan sign $16.5 billion nuclear power agreement appeared first on Khaama Press.