ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 5. The cost of constructing a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan could range from $10 to $12 billion, Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan.
The corresponding data is reflected in the draft Regulatory Policy Consultative Document for the draft Law "On the use of alternative energy sources."
This document will be open for public discussion until June 27, 2024.
Based on the document, if a referendum approves the construction of a nuclear power plant, the decision regarding its construction will be made prior to 2035.
The Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan will be the governing authority accountable for this matter.
On September 1, 2023, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced that Kazakhstan would conduct a referendum regarding the construction of a nuclear power plant.
"In 2019, I pledged on my election platform that referendums would be implemented for significant strategic decisions. The future of our nation is contingent upon the decision to either construct or reject a nuclear power facility. Therefore, I propose that a national referendum be conducted to address this issue. Subsequently, specific parameters will be established," he said.
Following this, Kazakhstan released a list of companies competing to supply technology for the country's inaugural nuclear power plant. These include China's CNNC with the HPR-1000 reactor, South Korea's KHNP with the APR-1400 reactor, France's EDF with the EPR-1200 reactor, and Russia's Rosatom with the VVER-1200 and VVER-1000 reactors.