Foreign companies to construct power plants in Kazakhstan
By Aynur Karimova
Kazakhstan is interested in the participation of foreign companies, including Russian and Japanese ones, in the construction of two nuclear power plants.
"One of the power plants will likely to be Russian-made on the Semipalatinsk shooting range. As for the Balkhash area, all projects being implemented in the world are discussed and the best one will be chosen. No decision has been made yet. We think that one of the most promising plants is that one made by Toshiba Westinghouse. Kazakhstan is a shareholder in this company. This is also a promising and safe development," Kazakh Energy Minister Vladimir Shkolnik told reporters on January 26.
Shkolnik also noted one of the nuclear power plants will be built with the Rosatomprom’s participation, the second one with the participation of the company that will win the tender. Several foreign companies have already made bids for participation in the tender.
Earlier, Head of Kazatomprom JSC National Company Nurlan Kapparov told Trend Agency that the company is holding negotiations with over four large international companies on a project for construction of a nuclear power plant on its territory.
“The negotiations touch upon the security issues, economic aspects of the project and its cost, as well as its financing scheme,” he said.
Kapparov said French AREVA, Japanese Mitsubishi and Toshiba, Russian Rosatom, as well as South Korean companies are among those with which negotiations are being held.
Being the world's biggest uranium producer since 2009, Kazakhstan produced 22,500 metric tons of uranium in 2013. All the uranium produced in Kazakhstan is exported, particularly to China and Europe.
Thermal power plant to be built in Kokshetau
Israeli All Energy LTD Company plans to construct thermal power plant in Kazakhstan’s Kokshetau city.
The issue was discussed at a meeting between Head of the Akmola region Sergey Kulagin and Head of All Energy LTD Vladimir Polevoi.
During the meeting, Polevoi said works on the thermal power plant are going ahead according to the schedule.
Kulagin called for complete preparation of all necessary documents to accelerate the implementation of the project.
The sides also signed a memorandum on the construction of thermal power plant in Kokshetau with a capacity from 400 to 600 UMG.
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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
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