The feasibility study for the Aktau nuclear power plant (NPP) is currently being appraised by the state regulators, while the first block of the power plant is scheduled for launch in 2016, Kazatomprom vice president Sergei Yashin said.
“The feasibility study has been completed and currently being
appraised by the authorized state agencies,” Yashin said at the forum
of Kazakhstan Energy Week on Friday in Astana.
Yashin reminded that the design and building of VBER-300 reactor and
the NPP was the prerogative of the Russian-Kazakh joint venture
established in October last year.
“The type of the reactor has been selected, it is a pressurized
water reactor of 300 Mw. According to the project, NPP is designed to
have two blocks and the launch of the first one is slated for 2016,”
Yashin said.
Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Aset Magauov said on
September 22 that Kazakhstan planned to build the nuclear energy
reactor by 2020. He said that the consultations were underway on the
site and type of the reactor to be used.
Answering to IF-Kazakhstan question, why the NPP has not been put on
the list of the priority investment projects recently approved by the
government, Magauov said, that this project is at the early stage of
discussion. “The issue is still under discussion and therefore, it has
not been put on the priority projects list. Everything will depend on
the state program,” he said.
For the first time the government of Kazakhstan revealed its intent
to construct a NPP near Lake Balkhash in 1998. It was also stated then
that the first unit of Balkhash NPP would be put into service in 2005
and the whole plant would be running not earlier than in 2015.
Later the government changed the location of the would-be nuclear
plant close to Aktau in the vicinity of the decommissioned fast breeder
reactor BN-350. BN-350 was put in service at MAEK energy complex in
1973.
It was planned to equip the Aktau plant with Russian made VBER-300 reactors.
The nuclear power plant is expected be located 10 kilometers from
Aktau in the vicinity of the decommissioned fast breeder reactor
BN-350. BN-350 was put in service at MAEK energy complex in 1973.
