Akan RAKHMETULLIN The First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan WHY KAZAKHSTAN IS PURSUING ITS OWN NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAMME
The nation has good reason to consider nuclear energy, in service of both its own interests and adding to global climate change efforts.
On October 6, Kazakhstan will hold a referendum to decide whether to build a nuclear power plant. This issue has been the subject of intense debate in the country for several years.
Currently, 412 nuclear reactors in 31 countries with a combined capacity of 370 gigawatts generate nearly 10 per cent of the world’s electricity. There are new reactors under construction in 18 countries, and another 30 countries are either planning to launch nuclear energy programmes or considering such a possibility. Kazakhstan is among them.
Our country has several reasons to consider nuclear energy. A primary factor is the rapidly growing energy consumption. In 2023, Kazakhstan became a net importer of electricity as it struggled with a power deficit. While we continue to develop renewable energy, particularly wind and solar, only nuclear power can provide the large-scale, stable supply needed.
Second, Kazakhstan holds almost 45 per cent of the world’s uranium reserves, making it a leading producer and exporter. Rather than limiting its role to uranium mining and fuel pod exports, Kazakhstan aims to enrich uranium to industry standards for domestic energy production.
Moreover, Kazakhstan has a strong reputation in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and is a reliable partner in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. We closed the Semipalatinsk test site in 1991 and voluntarily relinquished what was then the world’s fourth-largest nuclear arsenal, which was stationed on our territory.
Thirty years ago, we joined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Kazakhstan also hosts the IAEA Low Enriched Uranium Bank, which guarantees its members access to nuclear fuel if it cannot be sourced through commercial means.
Workers transport a canister inside the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Low Enriched Uranium Bank in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan. Photo: IAEA
Kazakhstan also has the technical and scientific capabilities to launch and sustain a nuclear industry. From 1973 to 1999, a fast breeder reactor operated in the western part of the country, generating electricity and desalinating Caspian Sea water.
The National Nuclear Centre, established at the former Semipalatinsk test site, focuses on nuclear energy development. Several universities offer nuclear science programmes. Building and operating a nuclear power plant would further advance Kazakhstan’s expertise in nuclear science, particularly in practical applications.
Finally, constructing a nuclear power plant would be a major step towards meeting Kazakhstan’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. In 2020, the country pledged a 15 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. In 2021, Kazakhstan set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Nuclear power generation can significantly reduce our current dependence on coal and help us achieve climate-related goals.
At the same time, it is understandable that not everyone in our country supports the idea of a nuclear power plant. The Semipalatinsk test site was closed in 1991 because of public pressure from the grass-roots movement Nevada-Semipalatinsk. This movement united both the victims of nuclear testing and civil society activists, ultimately succeeding in closing a dark chapter in Kazakhstan’s history.
Estimates suggest that at least 460 nuclear explosions were conducted on our territory between 1949 and 1989, affecting the health of 1.5 million citizens and causing severe environmental degradation. Even today, we still witness the painful consequences of those tests. Although 35 years have passed since the last explosion, the memories remain vivid. The nuclear disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima have also heightened public concerns.
While the outcome of the referendum will primarily affect Kazakhstan, the potential construction of our first nuclear power plant will also affect regional energy security and contribute to global decarbonisation efforts. Nuclear energy already makes a significant contribution to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions as nuclear power plants produce virtually no direct carbon emissions during operation.
In the context of regional energy security, building a nuclear facility in Kazakhstan would greatly reduce our dependence on external energy suppliers and free up renewable energy sources such as wind and solar for export to Europe, thereby enhancing the European Union’s energy security.
Earlier this year, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a green energy initiative aimed at linking their power grids. One of the key objectives of this project is to eventually export electricity to the European Union via the Caspian Sea.
Why Russia might be warming to China’s presence in Central Asia.
This issue has become particularly important for both Central Asia and the EU given the geopolitical challenges affecting the Eurasian region. As Kazakhstan faces a growing need for power generation, a diversified energy mix that includes nuclear energy is necessary to support both Kazakhstan’s and the EU’s energy needs.
The IAEA has been instrumental in assessing Kazakhstan’s readiness for nuclear energy development through various missions. These evaluations have highlighted the nation’s progress in key areas such as nuclear safety and security, emergency response planning and radioactive waste management.
Should Kazakhstan proceed with constructing a nuclear power plant, the IAEA will play a role in the process by facilitating the implementation of a nuclear power programme through its safety standards and technical review services.
Last year, the IAEA and Kazakhstan signed a five-year framework agreement to strengthen collaboration, focusing on developing nuclear power infrastructure and ensuring nuclear and radiation safety.
As we mark the 30th anniversary of our membership in the IAEA, Kazakhstan stands ready to contribute to global sustainable development through nuclear energy should our citizens choose to support this initiative in the upcoming referendum.
Source: South China Morning Post