NUCLEAR EDUCATION IN RUSSIA
2026-05-28 05:02

Russia and Kazakhstan signed an intergovernmental agreement on the construction of the "Balkhash" nuclear power plant

On 28th of May, the official visit of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to Kazakhstan took place. During the visit, an agreement was concluded between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the basic principles and conditions of cooperation on the project for the construction of a nuclear power plant in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The signatories of the agreement are: from the Russian side – Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, and from Kazakhstan – President of the Agency for Atomic Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Almasadam Satkaliev. The agreement exchange ceremony took place in the presence of the heads of state.

The intergovernmental accord outlines the key elements for the NPP project. The project involves building two Russian-designed power units with VVER-1200 reactors adhering to the best Russian practices. The document outlines the main areas of cooperation for the NPP operation, including service maintenance and fuel supply.
"We place great importance on our long-term partnership with Kazakhstan and are confident that Russian nuclear technologies will establish a solid foundation for the nation's energy independence and contribute to sustainable development. Our partnership has now achieved a qualitative leap, offering fresh opportunities for economic and technological advancement," said Alexey Likhachev.

Reference

In June 2025, at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum between the "Rosatom" and the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy, an Indicative Road Map for the construction of the NPP was approved. The document defines the main stages of interaction between the parties: organization of engineering and exploration work, preparation of project documentation, as well as conclusion of an Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract.

The first work on the project for the construction of the "Balkhash" nuclear power plant began on August 8, 2025 in the settlement of Ulken (Zhambyl district, Almaty region, Kazakhstan). The work included engineering research to select an optimal site and prepare project documentation for the construction of a high-capacity nuclear power plant. The results will determine the exact location of the NPP taking into account all safety requirements. Over 90% of field engineering surveys (site studies for construction) were completed by May 2026.