Sat Jun 14 19:34:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Kazakhstan has selected Russia’s Rosatom to lead an international consortium in building its first nuclear power plant. The plant, located in Ulken, will utilize Rosatom’s VVER-1200 Generation 3+ reactors and is expected to have 2.4 gigawatts of capacity by 2035. This decision follows a review of proposals from various companies, including those from China, France, and South Korea, with Rosatom deemed the most optimal based on safety, training, and other factors. The project has received mixed reactions, with some Kazakhs expressing concerns about Russian involvement given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, while others view it as a necessary step to diversify the country’s energy sources. Kazakhstan, rich in uranium but reliant on coal and other energy sources, aims to modernize its electricity grid by reintroducing nuclear power after decommissioning its previous reactor in 1999.
**News Article:**
**Rosatom to Build Kazakhstan’s First Nuclear Power Plant**
**ASTANA – June 15, 2025** – Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, has been chosen to lead an international consortium in constructing Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant, the Kazakh atomic energy agency announced Saturday. The decision marks a significant step for the Central Asian nation as it seeks to diversify its energy sources and modernize its electricity grid.
The plant, slated for construction in Ulken, approximately 400 km northwest of Almaty, will employ Rosatom’s advanced VVER-1200 Generation 3+ reactors. The two-reactor plant is expected to generate 2.4 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2035.
“We welcome Kazakhstan’s decision to start the nuclear power plant construction project,” stated Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev. “The result will be the construction of a nuclear power plant based on the most advanced and efficient design in the world, which is based on Russian technology.”
Kazakhstan’s atomic energy agency reviewed proposals from various international companies, including the China National Nuclear Corporation, as well as French and South Korean firms. Rosatom’s proposal was deemed the most optimal based on reactor safety, personnel training, and other crucial criteria. The agency says it’s initiated work on Russian state export financing for the project.
The decision comes after a national referendum in October 2024, in which Kazakhstan voted in favor of constructing the plant. However, the project has faced criticism from some Kazakhs concerned about Russian involvement, given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Kazakhstan, a major uranium producer, currently relies heavily on coal-powered plants, supplemented by hydroelectric power and a growing renewable energy sector. The new nuclear plant aims to reduce this reliance and provide a more stable and cleaner energy source. The country previously operated the BN-350 reactor on the Caspian Sea until its decommissioning in 1999.
President Vladimir Putin had previously visited Kazakhstan in November, discussing strengthened energy and industry ties.
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