Kazakhstan signs contract with Rosatom to build first nuclear power plant

September 3, 2026 at 09:07 AM2 min

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Kazakhstan signed a contract with Rosatom subsidiary Atomstroyexport for the design, supply, and construction of the country's first nuclear power plant. The agreement was signed on September 3 at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. The project moves to a practical stage, with government approval still required.

Key Facts

The contract was signed between Kazakhstan Atomic Electric Stations LLP and Atomstroyexport JSC, a subsidiary of Rosatom, at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on September 3, 2026.
The plant, named Balkhash, will have two power units with a total electric capacity of 2400 MW and will be built near the village of Ulken in the Zhambyl district of Almaty region.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with completion expected between 2034 and 2036, according to various sources.
The project budget is estimated at $16.4 billion, as reported by LSM.kz.
The signing was attended by Almasadam Satkaliyev, Chairman of Kazakhstan's Atomic Energy Agency, and Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom.

Contract Signing

The contract was signed on September 3, 2026, during the XI Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. The document was signed by Kazakhstan Atomic Electric Stations LLP and Atomstroyexport JSC, a subsidiary of Rosatom. The ceremony was attended by Almasadam Satkaliyev, Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy, and Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom. The signing marks the transition of the project to a new, practical stage. In accordance with the intergovernmental agreement of May 28, 2026, the parties will continue the required procedures, including obtaining approval from the Government of Kazakhstan.

Project Details

The plant, named Balkhash, will consist of two power units with a total electric capacity of 2400 MW. It will be built near the village of Ulken in the Zhambyl district of Almaty region. Construction is planned to start in 2027, with completion expected in 2034-2036. The project budget is estimated at $16.4 billion. The plant will use VVER-1200 reactor units.

Localization and Economic Impact

Special attention will be paid to localization, with maximum involvement of Kazakhstani enterprises, specialists, goods, works, and services. Companies wishing to participate in the project must enter a special supplier registry and meet strict requirements for quality, financial stability, and certification. The project is expected to create up to 15,000 jobs during construction. The nuclear power plant will provide stable base-load generation for decades, supporting Kazakhstan's growing economy, industry, digitalization, and AI development. Rosatom's Director General Alexey Likhachev stated that the corporation will soon begin design work and form an international consortium of equipment suppliers.