Baku, Azerbaijan, June 5
By Elena Kosolapova- Trend:
Construction of the first Kazakh nuclear power plant is planned to start in 2018, Kazinform quoted as Kazakh official saying on June 5.
Nuclear power generation is expected in 2023-2024, Deputy Minister of Industry and New Technologies Bahytzhan Dzhaksaliyev said at a press conference in the city of Kurchatov in East Kazakhstan region.
"If the decision on the construction of the nuclear power plant has been taken until the end of 2014, we can receive first energy volumes in 2023-2024," Dzhaksaliev said.
The studies and research of the nuclear power plant project will require 2-3 years, according to the deputy minister.
"In good circumstances we will be able to start construction of the nuclear power plant in 2018," vice-minister said.
Earlier Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev ordered the government to take decision on the construction of a nuclear power plant.
Kazakhstan has great uranium reserves - the main fuel for the plant. The country remains the world biggest uranium producer since 2009 and produced 22,500 tons in 2013 (38 percent of the world mining volume). Currently the country exports all the producing uranium.
Kazakhstan and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the construction of the nuclear power plants in Kazakh city of Kurchatov in late May. The project envisages the construction of the plant with water power reactors with 300-1200 MW capacity. The document also envisages the intention of the two countries to cooperate in supplying nuclear fuel to the nuclear power plant and possibility to jointly produce this fuel or its components in Kazakhstan.