China and Russia Lead Kazakhstan's Nuclear Power Plant Construction: "Nuclear Diplomacy" in Astana

Kazakhstan will sign an agreement with Moscow this year to build its first nuclear power plant, but the country has already planned to cooperate with the Kazakhstan National Nuclear Energy Company to build a second nuclear power plant, which may be completed earlier. Tokat also opened the door for the Western alliance to build a third nuclear power plant.

Astana (Asia News) - Almasadym Satkaliyev, chairman of the Kazakh Nuclear Energy Agency, told reporters that the Kazakh authorities announced that they plan to sign an agreement with Russia to build a nuclear power plant by the end of the year. To achieve this goal, negotiations of a special intergovernmental committee must be completed, after which the authority will be transferred to the energy committee. The work of these institutions is being carried out intensively, and the required funds are expected to be no less than 14 billion US dollars.

Melkhat Sharipzhanov, an expert on Central Asia from Radio Svoboda, assessed Kazakhstan's "nuclear diplomacy" against the background of the recent visit of the Chinese leader to Astana. During the Chinese leader's visit to Kazakhstan, energy issues were discussed, and it was considered that it not only helps economic development but also maintains the geopolitical balance between major world powers.

The decision to build a nuclear power plant was made in a referendum held on October 6, 2024, with more than 70% of voters supporting the decision. The results were subsequently used as the final legitimacy of the project, whose public objective is to reduce dependence on coal resources and lower electricity prices for all citizens.

The final decision was to reach an agreement with Russia, entrusting the state-owned enterprise Rosatom to complete the construction of the nuclear power plant by 2036. The company will take over the entire project by the end of this year. However, during the visit of the Chinese leader, Kazakhstan also announced that it would cooperate with China National Nuclear Corporation to build a second nuclear power plant. Satkaliyev himself emphasized that China, like Russia, is one of the "few countries that can realize the entire nuclear energy cycle from design to full operation."

Sharipzhanov commented, "Kazakhstan has moved beyond the role of an object of external influence and become a subject of active nuclear diplomacy." Considering Moscow's economic difficulties due to military expenditures in the Ukraine war, Beijing can advance the project faster than the planning stage. Therefore, this energy project will be a symbolic declaration of China's dominance in Eurasia, while Russia can only gain illusory power.

It is no coincidence that President Tokayev declared from the beginning that Kazakhstan plans to build not just one, but three nuclear power plants. After the referendum, he also stated that it is necessary to form an "international alliance" to bring together the world's most important companies and the most advanced technologies.

Korean and French companies have also been nominated, thus leaving room for Western countries following Russia and China, allowing Kazakhstan to occupy a central position in the future "atomic geopolitics."

Author: Vladimir Rozanskij

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836381868244105/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author.