Russia and Kazakhstan Sign Contract for Construction of First Nuclear Power Plant

Atomstroyexport and Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) have signed a contract for the construction of the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant. The project will feature VVER-1200 reactors and will be Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant. The signing ceremony took place during the Eastern Economic Forum, attended by Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom, and Almassadam Satkaliyev, Chairman of Kazakhstan's atomic energy agency.

According to the plan, the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant will house two units powered by Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactor technology, with a total installed capacity of 2.4 GW. The project site is located near the village of Ulken in the Zhambyl district of the Almaty region in Kazakhstan.

Preparatory work for the nuclear project has been underway for several years. In June 2025, Rosatom and Kazakhstan's atomic energy agency approved a project roadmap covering engineering surveys, preparation of design documentation, and the signing of an EPC turnkey contract. In August of the same year, engineering surveys were launched near the village of Ulken to determine the optimal site. The survey work is scheduled for completion in 2027, followed by the preparation of documents required for obtaining an operating license for the units.

Following the contract signing, Rosatom will act as the lead of an international consortium responsible for the full project lifecycle, encompassing design, construction, and delivery of the completed facilities.

Alexey Likhachev stated that Rosatom is finalizing the design and assembling a coalition of international equipment suppliers. All project phases will focus on building and commissioning a nuclear power plant that meets international safety and efficiency standards. He noted that Russian nuclear technology will support Kazakhstan's energy independence and sustainable development.