Kazakhstan Eyes Ambitious 2035 Goal for 2 Nuclear Power Plants — The Diplomat

Kazakhstan announced in June 2025 that it would build its first nuclear power plant in partnership with a consortium led by Russia’s Rosatom. Almost immediately afterward, Astana announced that it would build its second with China. As the shape of that project begins to take form, the country’s authorities have set 2035 as the target date for both to be completed. Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant is planned for a site near the village of Ulken, in Almaty Region on the shore of Lake Balkhash. The second plant will also be near Balkhash. It’s name, Moyynkum, was revealed earlier this year. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan is considering two locations – either in the east or west of the country – for a third nuclear power plant. This week, Kazakh Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said during a government briefing that “[t]he first Balkhash NPP [nuclear power plant] will be built with the Russian consortium Rosatom, and the second NPP, Moyynkum, is currently being developed with the China National Nuclear Corporation [CNNC].” In late October, during his annual state of the nation speech, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev iterated his proposal to turn the country into a “big construction site.” This endeavor includes Astana’s nuclear power ambitions. He referred to nuclear power as being of “fundamental importance,” and praised as the “correct decision” the approval…