Interfax citing Mr Sergey Yashin deputy head of the National Nuclear Company Kazatomprom as saying that a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan if approved may be built within the next 10 years.

He said that "The work has already started, if the decision on a nuclear power plant is made, the nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan become a reality in the next 10 years taking in regard today NPP technologies."

He added that "In the near future we will need to identify the role and place of nuclear power in the country energy balance, determine the locations for NPP building sites, choose the best nuclear technology, primarily in terms of safety and also settle a vast number of issues, from personnel training, development of NPP operational standards and participation of Kazakh companies in NPP construction."

The Kazak government first 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 before 2015. Later the government changed the location of the would be nuclear plant for Aktau, in the vicinity of the decommissioned fast breeder reactor BN-350. BN-350 was put in service at MAEK energy complex in 1973. That reactor has been shut down and its fuel removed.

Mr Sergei Yashin Earlier Kazatomprom vice president said that the feasibility study for the Aktau nuclear power plant was appraised by the state regulators while the first block of the power plant was scheduled for launch in 2016.

(Sourced from Interfax)