ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 29. Kazakhstan and Mongolia have formalized their partnership in the field of nuclear energy with the signing of a memorandum of cooperation, Trend reports.
The agreement was finalized between Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy and the Executive Office of the Nuclear Energy Commission of Mongolia, following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s recent visit to Ulaanbaatar.
During the visit, President Tokayev emphasized the significant natural resources possessed by both countries, stating, "We will work together on the exploration and development of iron, phosphate, bauxite, and rare mineral deposits. Kazakh entrepreneurs are ready to explore the potential of Mongolia's mining sector."
In addition to the nuclear energy agreement, the two leaders signed a Joint Declaration establishing a strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Mongolia. This was marked by a ceremonial exchange of the signed documents.
The signing comes on the heels of the first meeting of the Business Council held in Ulaanbaatar, where entrepreneurs from both nations signed major commercial agreements and several other documents aimed at fostering business collaboration.
Meanwhile, on October 6, Kazakhstan held a referendum regarding the construction of a nuclear power plant, with the date for the referendum being announced by President Tokayev on September 2, 2024.
In 2023, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy identified four main contenders for nuclear power plant construction: China's CNNC, South Korea's KHNP, France's EDF, and Russia's Rosatom. International organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), are also expected to be involved in the project to ensure additional oversight and compliance.