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Kazakhstan favours NPP construction


reliable and environmentally friendly energy sources. Therefore, I think we should pay special attention to the development of nuclear energy.” After casting his vote in the referendum,


Tokayev answered questions from the media, including about a possible supplier of the nuclear plant. “This is not an easy problem. The government should analyse and conduct appropriate negotiations. In my opinion, an international consortium consisting of world companies with the most advanced technologies should work in Kazakhstan.” Kazakhstan has been preparing for a possible


Above: Kazakhstan has voted in favour of developing a nuclear power plant


Kazakhstan, which held a long-awaited referendum on construction of its first NPP in October, voted in favour of the project according to preliminary results. Results released by the Central Election Commission (CEC) showed a turnout of 63.66%, with 73.11% of those who voted answering yes to the question: “Do you agree with the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan?” Conversely, 26.89%, voted against the NPP. A total of 12,284,487 Kazakh citizens were eligible to participate in the vote, of which 7,820,204 citizens cast their ballots. Of the total votes, 212,996 ballots were deemed invalid. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced


in September 2023 that a referendum would be held. In his address, he noted: “The development of nuclear energy has become an important economic and political issue. As you know, there are different opinions about whether it is necessary to build a nuclear power plant.” He said: “Kazakhstan is the largest uranium mining country in the world. So, we have the right to build a nuclear plant on our land. Some experts argue that small nuclear stations should be built. However, many citizens and a number of experts are sceptical about the safety of a nuclear station.” He added: “Considering how much suffering the Semipalatinsk test site caused to our people, one can understand their suspicions. Therefore, we must continue public hearings, detailed, large-scale discussions on this issue. We need to make a final decision on important strategic issues by referendum. The Semipalatinsk Test Site (also known as Semipalatinsk-21 or The Polygon) was the primary location for testing the Soviet Union’s nuclear weapons. A year later, announcing the date of the


referendum, he noted: “Today, the world’s energy shortage is growing. Our country needs


nuclear power programme to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, diversify its energy mix and reduce CO2


emissions for some time. Kazakhstan


Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP), a subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund, was set up in 2014. As well as being designated as the owner/operator of a future plant, KNPP is tasked with pre-project work including a feasibility study to justify the need for nuclear power. This was carried out in 2018 and potential sites were investigated. While no site has been formally announced, a site near Ulken village in the Zhambyl district of Almaty region on the shores of Lake Balkhash, has been identified as the most suitable location. The proposed first nuclear power plant would


be a large reactor but there are also options for using small modular reactors to replace retiring coal plants in the years to come. The government’s target is for nuclear to produce a 5% share of the national generation mix by 2035.


In August 2023, the Energy Ministry provided an update on previously conducted studies related to the choice of reactor technologies and siting. The Ministry recommended choosing a technology “proven by the experience of construction and successful operation of a similar plant”. The shortlist included the following potential suppliers of nuclear technologies: ● China National Nuclear Corporation’s HPR- 1000 (Hualong One) reactor;


● Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power’s APR1400 reactor;


● Rosatom’s VVER-1200 and VVER-1000 reactors; and


● EDF’s EPR-1200 reactor


Kazakhstan is the world’s leading producer of uranium. Although it does not currently use nuclear energy, it is not without nuclear experience. It has three operating research reactors, and a Russian-designed BN-350 sodium-cooled fast reactor operated near Aktau for 26 years, until 1999. ■


round up


NEW BUILD


THREE STEAM GENERATORS for unit 4 of the Xudabao NPP in China’s Liaoning Province have been shipped from Rosatom’s plant in Volgodonsk. The total weight is 1,000 tonnes. Delivery to the NPP construction site will be carried out using a combination of road, river and sea.


ENGINEERING TEAMS HAVE lifted the 423-tonne third and final steel liner ring into place at unit 2 of the Hinkley Point C NPP in the UK using giant crane, Big Carl. The steel ring, which is 11.6 metres in height and 47 metres in diameter, forms part of the inner containment wall of the reactor building.


THE LAST OF two low pressure rotors has been installed in the turbine building of unit 1 at the Akkuyu NPP under construction in Türkiye. The rotor assembly weighed 255 tonnes. The rotor was mounted using an overhead crane in a technically complex operation that required high precision.


CHINA’S MINISTRY OF Ecology & Environment has issued an operations licence for unit 1 of the Zhangzhou NPP, also known as Hualong 1, in Fujian Province. Zhangzhou Nuclear Power then began to load 177 fuel assemblies into the core of the reactor, marking the start of commissioning.


PLANT OPERATION JAPAN’S CHUGOKU ELECTRIC Power expects to restart unit 2 at its Shimane NPP in Matsue in Shimane Prefecture by the end of 2024. Assuming that the start of fuel loading and the progress of inspections go as planned, Chugoku has scheduled start-up of the reactor for early December and restart of the unit for late December, with commercial operation expected to begin in early January 2025.


RAMZI JAMMAL, EXECUTIVE Vice- President and Chief Regulatory Operations Officer at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, has authorised the removal of the third regulatory hold point for the Darlington NPP unit 1 refurbishment project. Ontario Power Generation may now exceed 1% full operating power for the refurbished reactor, to a maximum of 35%, for further testing and verification.


AN INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC Energy Agency (IAEA) Safety Aspects of Long Term Operation (SALTO) mission has completed a review of long term operational safety at unit 3 of the Oskarshamn Nuclear NPP in Sweden. The review was requested by plant operator, OKG Aktiebolag.


www.neimagazine.com | November 2024 | 7


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