Kazakhstan considers construction of nuclear power plant
By Aynur Jafarova
An extended management board meeting of the Nuclear Society of Kazakhstan discussed in Astana the construction of a nuclear power plant in the country, the Kazakh National Atomic Company (NAC) Kazatomprom reported on Wednesday.
"President Nursultan Nazarbayev set the important tasks before the industry. In particular, in 2013 the government of the country was ordered to determine the site for the construction of a nuclear power plant. A very serious work is ahead," the Chairman of the Nuclear Society of Kazakhstan and the Chairman of the Board of Kazatomprom Vladimir Shkolnik said in his opening speech.
Welcoming the participants, Shkolnik noted the increasing importance of the nuclear industry in the world. He also spoke about the company's operations in 2012.
"The whole world pays great attention to alternative energy sources. This also applies to our country. Last year, we laid the foundation for a complete cycle of solar panels production: from silicon extraction to finished silicon solar cells," Shkolnik noted.
Another issue which was raised by the president is the creation of local energy systems based on solar and wind, he added.
According to Shkolnik, these systems will be a modern solution of the problems of agriculture, supply of the remote regions of the country with autonomous, ecologically clean and uninterrupted power sources. Using such mix of stations will significantly reduce the cost of agricultural production, and thus make it more competitive.
Participants of the event were representatives of companies that are part of Kazatomprom as well as the executives of the Atomic Energy Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Republican State Enterprise "National Nuclear Center".
Nuclear Society of Kazakhstan was established in 1992 as an independent nonprofit organization, and voluntary association of legal entities aimed at the achievement of wide knowledge in the field of peaceful use of nuclear power. It has a network of divisions in the country.
Kazatomprom is Kazakhstan's national operator for the export of uranium and its compounds, rare metals, nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants, special equipment, technologies and dual-use materials. Its principal activities are geological exploration, uranium production, the initiation of the nuclear fuel cycle, the production of construction materials, energy, science, social welfare and training. Kazatomprom is an active participant in the development of renewable energy in Kazakhstan. Kazatomprom is amongst the leading uranium mining companies.