Azerbaijan, Baku, Sep. 30 / Trend E. Kosolapova/
Kazakh authorities have not determined a site for a future Atomic Power Plant, Deputy Industry and New Technologies Minister Bakhytzhan Dzhaksaliyev said, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported.
"The Head of State ordered us to propose sites for a nuclear power plant. As you know, we have created a working group and government commission to resolve this issue. The place has not yet been determined," Dzhaksaliyev told journalists.
According to the Deputy Minister, the government has not made a decision on the terms of the APP construction, but it will take at least 10 years.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev ordered that the government choose the place for Future Atomic Power Plant in the country in early 2013.
In February, spokesperson of the Kazakh National Atomic Company Kazatomprom, Kristina Podshivalova told Trend that Kazakhstan would build an Atomic Power Plant in one of the energy-deficient regions.
According to Kazatomprom's spokesperson, the most power hungry area in Kazakhstan is the southern region.
In particular, the city of Aktau is considered a possible site for future Atomic Power Plant because this region has experience in the sphere of nuclear energy, Podshivalova said.
Aktau was once the site of a nuclear power station. The BN-350 breeder reactor went live in 1973 here and closed in 1999.
According to Podshivalova, the main problem of Aktau is lack of fresh water and an Atomic Power Plant can solve this problem. The former plant located in this region was initially aimed at water desalination, she said.
"Currently, water is desalinated by using traditional sources in the region. As a result, its price is higher. Also the region's residents and ecologist say it is safer," Podshivalova said
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