BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 25. Kazakhstan has the potential for the development of nuclear energy, Kazakhstan's Energy Minister Bulat Aqchulaqov said in his speech at the Central Communications Service, Trend reports via the Ministry.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), electricity generation from nuclear power plants of all countries is predicted to grow by 1.8 times by 2050 - from 390 GW (gigawatts) in 2021 to 715 GW in 2050, Aqchulaqov said.
Total of 31 countries operate nuclear power plants. There are 439 power reactors in the world with a total capacity of 390 GW by February 2022, 52 reactors are under construction in 19 countries of the world. Nuclear energy accounts for 10 percent of the world's total electricity generation.
Aqchulaqov went on to say that Kazakhstan ranks first in the world in terms of natural uranium production, has its own production of nuclear fuel components, and also has access to uranium isotope enrichment services.
Plant for the production of finished nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants in China on the basis of the Ulba Metallurgical Plant was opened in 2021.
"The issue of Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) construction is considered by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy as one of the most promising areas, which is confirmed by world experience," the minister added.