Tokayev did not rule out the construction of a second and third NPP in Kazakhstan

Kazakh President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev did not rule out the construction of a second and third nuclear power plant, noting that the NPP is necessary for the republic. He made such a statement in an interview with Kazakh newspaper Ana Tili on January 3.

"Competitive procedures will be held this year, after which the government will make a final decision. I am convinced that Kazakhstan needs a large-capacity nuclear power plant. Moreover, I do not rule out that in the near future we will start building a second and possibly a third nuclear power plant," he said.

Tokayev said the nuclear industry will give a strong impetus to the country's economy, which is currently in an energy deficit. He emphasized that Kazakhstan should become a country with a developed nuclear energy industry.

During the interview, the Kazakh leader also drew attention to the fact that the issue of nuclear power plant was discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Astana last fall. As Tokayev noted, they agreed that in the consortium the Kazakh side will act as the general operator as the customer of the project.

"This issue was discussed with Vladimir Putin during his visit to Astana. It was agreed that the Kazakh side will act as the general operator in the consortium as the customer of the project. We discussed the possible participation of Rosatom, which has high competence and extensive experience in building nuclear power plants abroad," the Kazakhstani president said.

In addition, Tokayev said, negotiations are currently underway with a Chinese company, given China's great success in building civilian nuclear facilities. He added that other foreign corporations, including Western ones, are also interested in the project.

Earlier, on December 23 last year, Tokayev at a meeting with Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev instructed to speed up the implementation of the project to build a nuclear power plant in the country. December 12, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko said that she discussed during a meeting with the President of Kazakhstan assistance to Rosatom in the construction of a nuclear power plant in the country, as well as humanitarian cooperation between the two countries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Nov. 28 that he discussed the creation of the first nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan during talks in Astana. Putin then emphasized that cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan in this direction is possible, noting that the final decision always rests with the customer.

Before that, on August 5, Kazakh Deputy Energy Minister Zhandos Nurmaganbetov said that the country had also thought about building a second nuclear power plant on the Irtysh River near the city of Kurchatov. He noted that if Kazakhstan really takes the path of carbon neutrality, it simply has no choice but to build several plants.