FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Russia signed an agreement with Kazakhstan on Wednesday to build the first nuclear power plant in Central Asia's largest country. Kazakhstan, the world's largest uranium producer and a victim of Soviet nuclear tests, has been discussing the possibility of using atomic energy for at least two decades.
"The agreement that was signed today on the construction of the Balkhash nuclear power plant is of particular importance," Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Astana. "I would like to thank you for your support in developing this major project," Tokayev said.
Russia and Kazakhstan signed an intergovernmental agreement and a preliminary contract that will set the terms and price for the country's first nuclear power plant, the Balkhash nuclear power plant. The two sides also signed an agreement to provide a Russian export credit to finance the construction of the plant.
In a referendum held in 2024, Kazakh citizens voted in favor of building a nuclear power plant and selected the village of Ulken, on the shores of Lake Balkhash in the southeastern part of the country, as the site. Kazakhstan's nuclear energy agency said last month that Russia would provide the country with a loan covering about 85% of the $15 billion cost of the nuclear power plant, which will have two reactors.
Russia's state nuclear energy company Rosatom said it could hold talks on its participation in a project to build a second nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, Rosatom Director Alexei Likhachev said on Wednesday.
"We have not yet been officially informed about the Kazakh side's decision regarding the second power plant, either its configuration or location. As soon as we receive this official information, probably within the next few days, we will immediately move on to concrete negotiations," Likhachev declared.
Speaking about the Balkhash project, Likhachev said Kazakhstan had held talks with companies from South Korea, China and France about possible participation, adding that Rosatom had no objections.
However, the plant's technical design, specifications and supply of key heavy engineering equipment will ultimately be carried out by Rosatom, he said.
Likhachev stated that Rosatom plans to start construction work at the site in 2027 and expects the project to be completed in the mid-2030s.
Lini një Përgjigje