Kazakhstan chooses Rosatom to lead consortium for first nuclear power plantRosatom has been selected to lead an international consortium for the construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant, the country’s Atomic Energy Agency announced on Saturday."Rosatom has been selected to lead the international consortium for Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant project," the agency said in a Saturday statement.The Russian state nuclear corporation is now working to secure government-backed export financing from the Russian Federation. An intergovernmental commission in Kazakhstan evaluated proposals from multiple vendors before naming Rosatom as the preferred candidate.Other shortlisted contenders included China National Nuclear Corporation (ranked second) as well as France’s Électricité de France and South Korea’s Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (tied for third). Each company submitted detailed technical and commercial proposals covering estimated construction costs, project timelines, financing models, localization strategies, workforce training, nuclear fuel cycle cooperation, and social commitments.Kazakhstan’s government, which approved the nuclear plant’s construction in a 2024 national referendum, plans to sign necessary intergovernmental agreements and contracts by November 2025. While initial plans targeted a 2035 completion, the Energy Ministry has since urged vendors to accelerate the timeline, aiming to launch the first reactor within eight years. The project is expected to cost $10–12 billion.The plant will be built in the Zhambyl district of Almaty Region, as confirmed by the government in December 2024. Kazakhstan is currently reviewing large-capacity reactor technologies from France, China, Russia, and South Korea, with the average cost per reactor unit estimated at $5 billion. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX