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Kazakhstan, Russia launch construction of nuclear power plant in republic

Rosatom is proposing to "build a truly bestseller on the nuclear technology market," Rosatom Chief Executive Officer Alexey Likhachev added

ULKEN /Kazakhstan/, August 8. /TASS/. Kazakhstan and Russia have started the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP) in the republic. The ceremony attended by Rosatom Chief Executive Officer Alexey Likhachev and Chairman of the Agency for Atomic Energy Almasadam Satkaliyev is taking place near the village of Ulken in the Almaty region of the republic, a TASS correspondent reports from the scene.

"We are launching [in Kazakhstan] practical work on the implementation of the project to build a nuclear power plant," Likhachev said. Rosatom is proposing to "build a true flagship on the nuclear technology market," he said, adding that "the project in Kazakhstan will be a priority among the priorities of the state corporation Rosatom."

The project envisages the delivery of the VVER-1200 reactor, he noted. "Here, in Kazakhstan, we are ready to implement an international project," the chief executive said.

The initial stage of construction involves conducting survey and engineering works. On Friday, the Kazakh side officially handed over a capsule with soil samples taken from the site of construction of the future nuclear power plant for research to a representative of Rosatom.

The republic's authorities said on June 14 that Rosatom had been chosen as the leader of the consortium for the construction of the NPP, having submitted the best bid.

A nationwide referendum on constructing a nuclear power plant was held in Kazakhstan in 2024. The majority of voters supported the initiative. The village of Ulken, founded in 1984, is located in the Zhambyl district of the Almaty region, 340 kilometers from Almaty. The village is situated on the shore of Lake Balkhash for cooling the reactors of the nuclear power plant. According to the authorities, about 1,740 residents live in Ulken.

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