Kazakhstan, Astana, April 9 / Trend, D. Mukhtarov /
Kazakhstan is tardy on the construction of a nuclear power station on its territory, a Kazatomprom national company senior representative told Trend on conditions of anonymity.
"Kazakhstan is tardy with the nuclear power station construction on its territory," the interlocutor said. "Safe technologies were developed long ago and are being used. This question could be resolved long ago and we would have cheaper electricity."
The Kazakh government will soon determine the site for the nuclear power station.
It was previously reported with reference to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and New Technologies Asset Issekeshev that the issue must be finally resolved in June.
"We have established a working group including representatives of our ministry, Kazatomprom national company, scholars-power engineering specialists, who must determine the site for the nuclear power station and the configuration of the station," Deputy Prime Minister said. "There are five variants of sites, but the choice will be made after careful analysis and consideration of all important moments and criteria."
He added that the main focus will be on the region's needs of electricity and security.
"So, the matter will rest in the new generation reactors with a high degree of protection in case of unforeseen situations," he said. "Regarding the Fukushima accident, there was an old reactor. Today, despite the nuclear accident in Japan, no one refused to build nuclear power plants except Germany."
Issekeshev added that the issue of nuclear power development in Kazakhstan has the capacity and governmental interest. He recalled that the country ranks first on the uranium production in the world.
"The idea is that nuclear power has the potential to become as big a power source as coal energy," he said. "First, it is stable, and second, environmentally friendly."
He added that after the government makes a decision, an international tender for the nuclear power station's construction will be held.
"The most powerful companies in this sphere are Russian, U.S, Japanese, Korean and French," he said. "Applicants from these countries will likely take part in the contest."
He stressed that the first station will have a small capacity.
"After the nuclear power station is commissioned in 2020 and tested, the government will have a clear idea on the further development of nuclear energy," Issekeshev added.
In early 2013, the president ordered the government to determine the site for the nuclear power station by the middle of this year and to not delay its construction.