• building an NPP in the Atyrau region with two Russian 640 MWe reactor units;
• designing nuclear heating plants for districts in a number of cities;[3]
• building a 1000 MWe reactor or two smaller units of the same power equivalency at the Semipalatinsk Test Site;[4]
• and building a light water reactor on the shores of Lake Balkhash in southern Kazakhstan.[5]

Of all the NPP projects announced and debated, the proposed Balkhash NPP is the only one still under discussion to date. In July 1997, then Minister of Science and New Technologies Vladimir Shkolnik announced that $220 million had been invested in preparing a site (a half-built, mothballed coal-fired thermal plant) at Balkhash for an NPP.[6] In September 1998, Director of the Kazakhstani Atomic Energy Agency Timur Zhantikin indicated that the NPP would move forward, based on results from a special commission, which deemed the proposed Balkhash plant both economically and technically feasible. Zhantikin noted that while foreign companies, including Russian, would be allowed to participate in the project, a Kazakhstani-based company would be created to build and manage the plant. Construction of the first reactor bloc, slated to cost $1 billion, was to begin in 1998.[7] Two years later, however, the Kazakhstani government rejected plans to build the proposed Balkhash NPP citing high construction and maintenance costs, lack of safety guarantees, and negative public opinion.[8]

High-level discussions about the proposed Balkhash plant have continued as recently as February 2003. Russian President Putin announced Russia's intention to build the plant after a February 18, 2003 meeting with Kazakhstani President Nazarbayev. Putin noted that Russia and Kazakhstan are going to expand bilateral cooperation, particularly in the nuclear power industry.[9] Russian Atomic Energy Minister Aleksandr Rumyantsev told Interfax on February 21, 2003 that Russia could build a VVER-1000 on the site, but the grid near Balkhash is weak and incapable of handling such capacity. Construction of a VVER-640 would be more costly and take longer to recoup costs, according to Rumyantsev. If the Kazakhstani power network is upgraded, Russia could build in Kazakhstan the same 1000 MWe turn-key projects it is building in China, India, and Iran.[10]

However, several days after the Russian-Kazakhstani summit, Kazakhstani Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Vladimir Shkolnik announced that an international tender would be held to select an experienced contractor to construct the NPP. He noted that the issue of building an NPP at Lake Balkhash had been discussed with Russian specialists before, but no concrete decision was made, and there was no agreement between Russia and Kazakhstan on this matter.[11] The first step is to determine the type of reactor, based on required capacity and security criteria. Shkolnik noted that the Russian reactor design VVA-640 meets the above criteria and will be among those considered.[12] Kazakhstani specialists estimate that the cost of constructing one power unit ranges from $1.5 to $2.5 billion, depending on the selected site, infrastructure, seismic conditions, and preliminary engineering work.[13]

Proponents of the reactor claim Central Asia will be in an energy crisis in 10 years and point out that Kazakhstan has enormous uranium reserves with which to fuel the proposed plant.

Opponents fear another Chernobyl-type disaster, want to avoid accumulating additional nuclear waste, and, most importantly, believe government officials would skim money from funds allocated towards the project, putting the plant's safety in jeopardy.[14] Kazakhstani press reports indicate that some believe that Russia is putting pressure on Kazakhstan to build the plant.[15]

Developments:
2/2003: NEW INITIATIVE TO BUILD BALKHASH NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
Despite the Kazakhstani government's rejection in September 2000 of a plan to build a nuclear power plant (NPP) at Lake Balkhash, Russian President Putin announced Russia's intention to build the NPP after an 18 February 2003 meeting with Kazakhstani President Nazarbayev. Putin noted that Russia and Kazakhstan are going to expand bilateral cooperation, particularly in the nuclear power industry.[1] Indeed, several days after the Russian-Kazakhstani summit, Kazakhstani Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Vladimir Shkolnik announced that an international tender will be held to select an experienced contractor to construct the NPP. He noted that the issue of building an NPP at Lake Balkhash had been discussed with Russian specialists before, but no concrete decision had been made, and that there is no agreement between Russia and Kazakhstan on this matter.[2,3] According to Shkolnik, it will take a total of 10-15 years to build the NPP. Of that time period, two years will be required for the design phase.[4] The first step is to determine the type of reactor, based on capacity and security requirements. Shkolnik noted that Russian BBA-640 reactor design meets these criteria and will be among those considered.[5] Shkolnik also stated that before construction starts, additional seismic and geodetic surveys of the selected site will have to be conducted, and conclusions drawn in accordance with international standards.[2] Specialists estimate that the cost of constructing one power unit ranges from $1.5 to $2.5 billion, depending on the selected site, infrastructure, seismic conditions, and preliminary engineering.[1]
Sources:
[1] Veronika Voskoboynikova, "Rossiya budet stroit AES u Balkhasha," ITAR-TASS, 18 February 2003, ITAR-TASS Web Site, http://www.itar-tass.com/different/hotnews/russian/202419.html.
[2] "Kazakhstanu neobkhodimo provesti mezhdunarodnyy tender na stroitelstvo Balkhashskoy AES - glava Minenergo," Interfax, 24 February 2003.
[3] "V skorom vremeni Astana provedet mezhdunarodnyy tender," RusEnergy - Novosti TEK, 26 February 2003; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.
[4] Oral Karpishev, "V Kazakhstane yest politicheskaya volya na stroitelstvo atomnoy elektrostantsii," ITAR-TASS, 24 February 2003; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.
[5] "Atomnaya stantsiya strane nuzhna - eto moya tochka zreniya kak grazhdanina Kazakhstana - V. Shkolnik," RusEnergy - Novosti TEK, 25 February 2003; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.{entered/ 03/07/2003 AD}

1/17/2003: KAZAKHSTAN TO BEGIN FINANCING TWO MAJOR NUCLEAR PHYSICS PROJECTS
According to Interfax, Kazakhstan has begun financing two important nuclear physics projects.  One project is the construction of a heavy-ion accelerator at Gumilev Eurasian National University in Astana;[1] the other project is the  construction of the Tokamak thermonuclear test reactor, which will be located on the former Semipalatinsk test site.[1,2]  The Kazakhstani government has allocated 161 million tenge (approximately $1 million as of 17 January 2003) for the construction of the accelerator, and 198 million tenge (about $1.2 million) for the construction of the Tokamak reactor.[1] The Tokamak facility is expected to be in operation by 2007, and will be constructed with Russian assistance at an estimated cost of $15.2 million.[2] The heavy-ion accelerator will also be built with Russian assistance, in cooperation with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research.[1]
Sources:
[1] Interfax-Kazakhstan, 8 January 2003; in "Kazakhstan To Finance Two Major Nuclear Physics Projects," FBIS Document CEP20030108000238.
[2] Interfax, 17 January 2003; in BBC Worldwide Monitoring; in "Russia, Kazakhstan sign protocol on development of fusion reactor," Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://www.lexis-nexis.com/. {Entered 6/03/2003 AE}

9/26/2000: KAZAKHSTAN REJECTS PLAN TO BUILD BALKHASH NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
The government of Kazakhstan rejected plans to build the proposed South Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plant on Lake Balkhash citing high construction and maintenance costs, lack of safety guarantees, and negative public opinion. 
[Interfax-Kazakhstan, 26 September 2000; in "Kazakh Government Rejects Plan to Build Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant," FBIS Document CEP20000926000321.] {Entered 9/28/00 NA} 
  
 
8/98: ENVIRONMENTAL FEASIBILITY STUDY PUBLISHED
Problemy Nerasprostraneniya published an environmental feasibility study for the Balkhash NPP. The study outlines basic procedures at the plant, environmental and waste management, infrastructure development, the use of natural resources and possible accidents. The study was performed by Atomenergoproyekt Research, Design, and Construction Institute in St. Petersburg.
[ "Zayavleniye ob ekologicheskikh posledstviyakh Balkhashskaya atomnaya elektricheskaya stantsiya," Problemy Nerasprostraneniya, No. 4, August 1998, pp. 54-61.] {Added 3/25/99 CF} 
 
9/11/98:  LAKE BALKHASH POWER PLANT TO GO AHEAD
On 11 September 1998, Timur Zhantikin, Director of Kazakhstan's Atomic Energy Agency, said that the plans to build a major nuclear power plant on the banks of Lake Balkhash will probably go ahead. This prognosis is based on the results of a special commission of experts who looked into the technical and economic basis for the project.  Doubts remain, however, due to Kazakhstan's economic situation and the resulting uncertainty about the potential demand for power.  Russia's economic and political turmoil could also become a source of uncertainty about the project; if the reactors are ordered from Russia, a guarantee that the orders will be fulfilled would be necessary.  According to Zhantikin, foreign companies would be allowed to participate in the project, but a Kazakhstan-based company would be formed to build and manage the plant, which would be subject to strict environmental standards.  Construction was due to start this year; the first unit should take around seven years to complete and cost about $1 billion, while the other units should each take two years to complete and cost somewhat less.
["Kazakhstan Sees Nuclear Power Plant Going Ahead," Reuters,  11 September 1998; in Inquisit Agent Report, http://www.inquisit.com/.] {Entered 12/11/98, RC} 
 
2/97:  NEW PROJECT DISCUSSED AT SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE AT ULBA
A December 1997 scientific conference held at the Ulba Metallurgy Plant discussed proposals for the construction of nuclear heat and electric power plants in Balkhash, Leninogorsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk.  According to Kazakhstani delegates, the population of the Balkhash region supports the future project.  Opposition remains in East Kazakhstan, where Leninogorsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk are located; however, at a meeting conducted after the conference experts from National Nuclear Center of Kazakhstan presented the proposed project for construction of the Leninogorsk Nuclear Heat and Electric Power Plant to local authorities, heads of enterprises, and the general public.
[Viktoriya Shevchenko, "Alternativy atomnoy energetike v Kazakhstanye nyet," Kazakhstanskaya pravda, No. 2, 6 January 1998, p. 3.] {Entered 4/14/98, EB} 
 
9/10/97:  NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN KAZAKHSTAN
Vladimir Shkolnik, the Minister of Science and the President of the Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan, said on 10 September 1997 that four to six small nuclear stations, each with a capacity of 1 MWe, are to be built in the western and central parts of Kazakhstan.[1]  The combined cost of the facilities is estimated at $5 to $6 billion.  The project will take about 30 years to complete.[2]
Sources:
[1] Interfax, 10 September 1997; in "Financial Report," FBIS-SOV-97-253. {Entered 3/16/98, EB}
[2] Vyacheslav Kokhanov, "AES on Shores of Lake Balkhash?" Rabochaya tribuna, "BusinessTuesday" supplement, 9 September 1997, p. 3; in "Kazakhstan: Country to Build Nuclear Power Station," FBIS-SOV-97-253. {Entered 3/16/98, EB.}  

7/25/97: NEW NUCLEAR HEAT AND ELECTRIC PLANT IN KAZAKHSTAN
According to Valeryan Shemanskiy, Vice President of AO KATEP, Kazakhstan plans to build a nuclear heat and electric plant near Almaty.  The construction of this plant will help to improve the environmental situation in Almaty.  The estimated cost of the project is $500 million.
[Sergey Borisov, "Atomnoy promyshlennosti dan shans stat na nogi," Kazakhstanskaya pravda, 25 July 1997, p. 1.] {Entered 3/16/98, EB} 
 
1/22/97: NEW NUCLEAR PLANT TO BE BUILT AT LAKE BALKHASH
Vladimir Shkolnik, Kazakhstani Minister of Science and New Technologies and President of the Kazakhstani Academy of Sciences, said that a mothballed half-built coal-fired plant at Lake Balkhash, 420 km north from Almaty, will be the site of a new nuclear plant. According to Shkolnik, $220 million has been already invested in preparing the site for construction.
[Interfax, 22 January 1997;  in "Kazakhstan: Minister on Plans To Build Nuclear Power Plants," FBIS-SOV-97-015] {Entered 2/3/97 GB} 
 
7/96: NUCLEAR PLANT IN SOUTHERN KAZAKHSTAN DISCUSSED
Referring to "inside governmental sources," an article in The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists states that Kazakhstan and Russia have reached a preliminary agreement on building a VVER-type reactor in Southern Kazakhstan. Russia has reportedly offered to use the money it owes Kazakhstan for the return of nuclear warheads on Kazak soil as a down payment on the nuclear power plant, and has proposed that Kazakhstan's share of the US payment to Russia in exchange for formerly Soviet uranium could be used to cover the cost of the reactor. In addition, Russia agreed to loan Kazakhstan the rest of the money for the reactor. Some local experts suggest using empty missile silos, currently slated for destruction under the terms of the START I treaty, for the disposal of nuclear waste produced by the plant.
[Mikhail Ustiugov, "Kazakh Power Play," The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, 7 August 1996,  pp. 45-49.] 
 
4/96: NUCLEAR PLANT TO BE BUILT IN SEMIPALATINSK
Plans are underway for an international tender for the development and construction of a new nuclear power plant to be built at the Semipalatinsk site. According to the Kazak Nuclear Society, the design will likely be a 1000 MW reactor or two smaller units of the same power equivalency. More details are expected to be announced at a conference on nuclear power in Kazakhstan in June 1996.
Sources:
[1] UI News Briefing 9614, 3 April 1996.
[2] UI News Briefing, 16 April 1996. 
 
1-2/96: NUCLEAR SPECIALISTS PLAN TO BUILD SEVERAL NUCLEAR PLANTS
According to Yuriy Cherepnin, Director of the Institute of Atomic Energy, Kazakhstani specialists are considering building several nuclear reactors before 2015. Their plans include replacing the BN-350 reactor in Aktau by an advanced modular BMN-170 reactor, building two small nuclear heat-and-power plants in Kurchatov, building a nuclear power plant in the Atyrau region with two Russian 640-MWe reactor units, and designing nuclear heating plants for districts in a number of cities.
[Yuriy Cherepnin, "Kazakhstan aims to go on developing nuclear," Nuclear Europe Worldscan, January, February 1996,  p. 53.] 
 
12/23/95: POLLS ON BUILDING NUCLEAR PLANT IN SEMIPALATINSK
In a referendum, the inhabitants of Semipalatinsk were asked the following question: "Would you agree to the construction of an atomic power station on the territory of the Semipalatinsk Oblast?" Forty-three percent responded "No," 40 percent were amenable to the idea, and 10 percent were undecided. Fearing the specter of another Chernobyl, the issue of continued development of Kazakhstan's nuclear infrastructure has recently become subject to increased criticism.
Sources:
[1] Leonid Reznikov, "In Semipalatinsk A Referendum Of The Oblast Headquarters Was Conducted," Panorama, 23 December 1995, p.2.
[2] Vera Galaktionova, "The Ashes Of Chernobyl Beat The Heart Of Each," Kazakhstanskaya pravda, 28 November 1995, p. 1. 
 
10/18/95: GOVERNMENT PLANS TO CONSTRUCT NUCLEAR PLANT IN SEMIPALATINSK
The government of Kazakhstan passed a resolution which, among other things, calls for the construction of a modern nuclear power station "of the latest design" on the territory of the former Semipalatinsk nuclear testing site. Instructions were also included regarding the solicitation of foreign firms to take part in the project. In addition, a report is being planned to map out the course of development for Kazakhstan's nuclear industrial development until 2030. Three ministries have been designated to prepare a technical and economic analysis detailing appropriate locations for future nuclear plants in Kazakhstan.
Sources:
[1] "Nuclear Power Plant to be Built on Semipalatinsk Site," Panorama, (Almaty), 1 November 1995, p.1; in FBIS-SOV-95-212, 1 November 1995.
[2] "An Atomic Power Station Will Be Built At The Former Nuclear Test Site," Izvestiya, 4 November 1995, p. 1.
[3] "International Bids Invited For Nuclear Power Plant," Nuclear News, December 1995, p. 30. 
 
6/2/95: SEMIPALATINSK SITE CAN HOST A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
It was reported that the Kazakhstani Foreign Ministry has not ruled out the possibility of converting the Semipalatinsk test site to a facility housing a nuclear power station.
["Nuclear Power Station May Be Built at Semipalatinsk," 2 June 1995; in FBIS-SOV-95-107.]

[1] Panorama, November 1, 1995, p. 1, "Nuclear Power Plant to be Built on Semipalatinsk Site," FBIS-SOV-95-212; "An Atomic Power Station Will Be Built At The Former Nuclear Test Site," Izvestiya, November 4, 1995, p. 1. "International Bids Invited For Nuclear Power Plant," Nuclear News, December 1995, p. 30.
[2] Leonid Reznikov, "In Semipalatinsk A Referendum Of The Oblast Headquarters Was Conducted," Panorama, December 23, 1995, p. 2; Vera Galaktionova, "The Ashes Of Chernobyl Beat The Heart Of Each," Kazakhstanskaya pravda, November 28, 1995, p. 1.
[3] Yuriy Cherepnin, "Kazakhstan aims to go on developing nuclear," Nuclear Europe Worldscan, January, February 1996, p. 53.
[4] UI News Briefing 9614, April 3, 1996; UI News Briefing, April 16, 1996.
[5] Russia reportedly offered to use the money it owes Kazakhstan for the return of nuclear warheads on Kazakhstani soil as a down payment on the nuclear power plant, and proposed that Kazakhstan's share of the U.S. payment to Russia in exchange for formerly Soviet uranium could be used to cover the cost of the reactor. In addition, Russia agreed to loan Kazakhstan the rest of the money for the reactor. Mikhail Ustyugov, "Kazakh Power Play," The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, August 7, 1996, pp. 45-49.
[6] Interfax, January 22, 1997; in "Kazakhstan: Minister on Plans To Build Nuclear Power Plants," FBIS-SOV-97-015.
[7] "Kazakhstan Sees Nuclear Power Plant Going Ahead," Reuters, September 11, 1998, in Inquisit Agent Report, http://www.inquisit.com.
[8] Interfax-Kazakhstan, September 26, 2000; in "Kazakh Government Rejects Plan to Build Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant," FBIS Document CEP20000926000321.
[9] "Rossiya budet stroit AES u Balkhasha," ITAR-TASS, 18 February 2003, ITAR-TASS Web Site, http://www.itar-tass.com/different/hotnews/russian/202419.html.
[10] "Construction of Nuclear Power Unit in Kazakhstan to Cost under $2 Billion – Rumyantsev," Interfax, February 21, 2003; "Russian minister says country willing to build nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan," ITAR-TASS, February 21, 2003.
[11] "Kazakhstanu neobkhodimo provesti mezhdunarodnyy tender na stroitelstvo Balkhashskoy AES - glava Minenergo," Interfax, February 24, 2003; "V skorom vremeni Astana provedet mezhdunarodnyy tender," RusEnergy - Novosti TEK, February 26, 2003, in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.
[12] "Atomnaya stantsiya strane nuzhna - eto moya tochka zreniya kak grazhdanina Kazakhstana - V. Shkolnik," RusEnergy - Novosti TEK, February 25, 2003, in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.
[13] "Rossiya budet stroit AES u Balkhasha," ITAR-TASS, February 18, 2003, ITAR-TASS Web Site, http://www.itar-tass.com/different/hotnews/russian/202419.html.
[14] Aleksandr Tonkopryadchenko, "Mazhlismeny vosprotivilis stroitelstvu AES na Balkhashe," Komsomolskaya pravda, No. 35 (22980), February 26, 2003, p. 5.
[15] "Obratnaya storona yadra," Novoye pokoleniye, No. 7 (247), February 21, 2003, p. 4. Vremya, February 20, 2003; in "Kazakhstani Greens against plans to build atomic power station in south," FBIS Document ID CEP20030220000240.

	Updated August 2004