On the shore of Lake Balkhash, about 400 kilometers northwest of Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, drilling machines are roaring on the land of Urken Village in the Jiangbul District. This is the site selection for Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant. The expert team of the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation has started drilling exploration wells and collecting soil samples, laying the foundation for the construction of this nuclear power plant with a total investment of about 14-15 billion US dollars.

And not far from this land, the government of Kazakhstan has just designated the site of the second nuclear power plant. On January 26, 2026, the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan issued Government Resolution No. 40, officially approving the construction of the "Second Nuclear Power Plant" nuclear facility in the Jangbur District of Almaty Oblast. This means that Kazakhstan's first two nuclear power plants will be concentrated in the southern region of the country, forming an important 'nuclear power corridor'.

Core Nuclear Power Layout in the Southern Region

Kazakhstan's Atomic Energy Agency Chairman Almasadam Satkalyev revealed at a briefing in the lower house of parliament, Mazhilis, that the second nuclear power plant will be located in the Jambur district of Almaty, adjacent to the site of the country's first nuclear power plant. This decision is based on the current situation of power shortage in southern Kazakhstan and aims to improve energy supply efficiency through centralized layout.

Previously, the location of Kurchatov in Abay Oblast (close to the former nuclear test site of S ü hlshafen) was considered as one of the three proposed nuclear power plants, and the site selection plan was reviewed by the International Atomic Energy Agency. However, the current government decision confirms that Almaty Oblast is the key site selection, reflecting Kazakhstan's priority consideration for the electricity demand in the south.

Two major nuclear power giants build 'twin stars' separately

Kazakhstan's nuclear power construction adopts a unique model of "China Russia cooperation". The first nuclear power plant was constructed by the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation, using two VVER-1200 reactors with a designed installed capacity of 2.4 gigawatts, with each reactor having an installed capacity of 1.2 gigawatts. Experts from the engineering department of the Russian Atomic Energy Corporation have started drilling the first exploration well and collecting soil samples. The foundation is planned to be poured in 2029 and is expected to be put into operation in 2035.

The construction contracts for the second and third nuclear power plants were awarded to China National Nuclear Corporation. In June 2025, the Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Agency announced that the proposal from the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation was "optimal and most advantageous" and was identified as the leading party of the international consortium for Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant construction project; China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) ranked second and was listed as the "preferred lead party" for the second nuclear power plant. On July 31st, Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Skriar announced that CNNC will build Kazakhstan's second and third nuclear power plants.

Nuclear power becomes Kazakhstan's strategic choice

The Kazakh authorities view nuclear energy as a strategic solution to the country's increasingly severe electricity shortage. As one of the world's largest uranium producing countries, Kazakhstan has abundant uranium resources, but has not engaged in nuclear power generation since the closure of the BN-350 fast reactor in Aktau in 1999. Currently, 70% of Kazakhstan's electricity relies on coal-fired power plants, and most of the units are aging.

On October 6, 2024, Kazakhstan approved the plan to build a nuclear power plant through a national referendum, with 71.12% of voters voting in favor. The government's energy planning department has warned that Kazakhstan may face increasingly severe power shortages as early as the mid-2020s due to aging coal-fired power plants and rising consumption. According to predictions, by 2035, the power shortage may reach an installed capacity of 3 gigawatts.

At the same time, Kazakhstan has set an ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Nuclear energy is considered an ideal supplement to renewable energy due to its low-carbon emission characteristics, which can provide stable and reliable base load electricity. Kazakhstan President Tokayev has repeatedly emphasized that nuclear energy is the key to national development, and without it, Kazakhstan would find it difficult to achieve sustainable development.

Energy Minister Yellan Akhenanov stated in January that Kazakhstan will achieve full domestic energy demand by the end of the first quarter of 2027, without relying on nuclear power; It is expected that by 2029, the country will achieve electricity surplus and begin exporting electricity. The achievement of this goal will depend on the smooth progress of new energy projects, including nuclear power. Keywords: International News Network, Central Asia Latest News, Nuclear Power Plant

With the site selection of the second nuclear power plant, Kazakhstan's nuclear power blueprint is accelerating. The deep participation of the two major nuclear power countries, China and Russia, will not only provide stable clean energy for Kazakhstan, but also promote the transformation of energy structure in Central Asia, injecting new vitality into regional economic development.Editor/Yang Meiling