Kazakhstan’s Quest for Nuclear Power: Building the First Nuclear Plant
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Policy Agenda Attracts Global Players in Nuclear Industry
In the period from October to December 2024, Kazakhstan’s foreign policy agenda took center stage as several global players in the nuclear industry showed interest. Following a referendum where over 70% of Kazakh citizens supported the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant (NPP), active diplomatic efforts began to form an international consortium.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced plans to determine the participants of the international consortium for the nuclear power plant construction in Kazakhstan in 2025. This marks a shift for Kazakhstan in the energy sector, positioning it as a desirable partner with extensive resource bases, a favorable investment environment, and significant potential in the future nuclear energy market in Central Asia.
Multivector nuclear diplomacy aligns with Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy principles, serving multiple crucial functions. It helps Kazakhstan secure favorable conditions for NPP construction on its territory and acts as a facilitator to bring competing parties closer, reducing tensions in the context of great power competition.
November emerged as a significant month for Kazakhstan’s multivector nuclear diplomacy, with high-level visits to France, China, South Korea, and Russia focusing on potential participation in the NPP construction. Countries like China, South Korea, Russia, France, and the USA presented compelling proposals, each offering unique advantages in terms of technology, financing, and support.
The decision on the future consortium architecture is expected in 2025, with selection criteria likely focusing on technological reliability, timelines, localization, investments, and geopolitical balance. Kazakhstan’s broader energy context involves discussions on diverse energy projects, including thermal power plants, gas pipelines, oil fields, and renewable energy sources.
Looking towards 2035, the construction of the NPP is set to begin in 2029, with commissioning scheduled for 2035. This underscores Kazakhstan’s commitment to energy security, source diversification, and reducing carbon emissions. The choice of partners for the NPP construction will impact socio-economic development, job creation, and technology transfer.
Kazakhstan’s multivector nuclear diplomacy signals a new era in its foreign policy, with the potential to strengthen its sovereignty, global energy role, and leadership in the nuclear field. The NPP project symbolizes how adept diplomacy and multivector policies can maximize benefits from global competition among technological giants, positioning Kazakhstan at the forefront of the global energy system.
