Kazakhstan, Astana, March 20 / Trend D. Mukhtarov /
The Kazakh government will determine the site for an atomic power station by this summer, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and New Technologies Asset Isekeshev told Trend on Tuesday.
"The government has not yet determined the site for an atomic power station," he said. "The decision has not been made yet. Work on the plan and further configuration of the plant is underway."
He recalled that Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev ordered the government not to delay the decision on the atomic power station construction and determine its site by the middle of this year.
"A working group which includes representatives of our ministry, the Kazatomprom national company and scholars, has been established," he said. "They must determine the site for the future plant and the configuration of the station. The choice will be made after careful analysis and taking into account all important things and criteria."
He added that special attention will be primarily paid to safety.
"So, the matter will rest in new generation reactors with a high degree of protection in case of unforeseen situations," he added.
He said that after the government makes a decision, an international tender to build the atomic power station construction will be announced.
"The most powerful companies in the field are Russian, American, Japanese, Korean and French," he said. "Applicants from these countries will take part in the bidding."
"The energy balance must be considered by the government," the president said. "This construction will last for many years. We must take it into account for a perspective. The proposals must be submitted to me during the first half of the year."