Photo: gov.kz
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has begun preparing a comprehensive assessment of Kazakhstan's nuclear infrastructure for the construction of nuclear power plants, the Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Agency said.
An IAEA mission is under way in Astana from October 12 to 15. It aims to help Kazakhstan prepare a self-assessment report on its nuclear infrastructure and get ready for the main Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission.
«The main goal of the joint work is to discuss the experts' proposals on the self-assessment report, clarify the information provided and determine the next steps in preparing for the INIR mission,» the agency said in a statement.
The program covers 19 areas, including nuclear and radiation safety, physical protection of nuclear facilities, legislation and regulation, financing, workforce training, stakeholder engagement, power grid readiness and the nuclear fuel cycle.
IAEA experts, representatives of the Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Agency, the company Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants and the national atomic company Kazatomprom are taking part.
Kazakhstan plans to build several nuclear power plants. The first, Balkhash, is to be located in the village of Ulken in the Almaty region. Russia's Rosatom has been chosen to lead the international consortium building the plant. On September 3, Kazakhstan signed a contract with Atomstroyexport, a Rosatom subsidiary, for the design, supply and construction of the plant. The project is estimated to cost about $16.4 billion.
The south of the country has also been chosen as the site for the second plant, in the Zhambyl district of the Almaty region. China's CNC is being considered as the preferred contractor for that project. A third plant, with small and medium-sized reactors, is being considered for the Caspian Sea coast in western Kazakhstan.
