Tokayev: Work on second nuclear power plant to begin soon

Tengrinews.kz – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced that construction of Kazakhstan’s second nuclear power plant will begin in the near future. The statement came during his working trip to the Kyzylorda region, where he met with local community representatives, according to Akorda.
Tokayev emphasized that while the region is developing dynamically, large-scale efforts are still required ahead. He also addressed key national priorities, including youth development, environmental initiatives, digitalization, and energy security.

“The world today is unstable and rapidly changing. We must pay special attention to supporting our youth — they are talented and capable. The future of our country will belong to educated and open-minded young people,” the President said.

Speaking about the country’s modernization, Tokayev noted that Kazakhstan has already launched the first supercomputer in Central Asia and continues to advance in the field of digitalization and artificial intelligence.

“We must become a modern, advanced country. Otherwise, we risk falling behind developed nations. In addition to digital transformation, we have started building the first nuclear power plant, and soon we plan to begin the implementation of the second NPP project,” Tokayev stated.

The President also highlighted the importance of addressing water scarcity in the Kyzylorda region, calling it one of the most pressing challenges. He urged the introduction of advanced water-saving technologies and noted that the government has allocated one trillion tenge in subsidies to support the agricultural sector this year.
Tokayev further underscored the role of culture and education, announcing the construction of two Presidential libraries in Astana and Almaty, which will operate around the clock. A third library may be opened in Kyzylorda in the future.
Earlier, Almasadam Satkaliyev, head of the Atomic Energy Agency, reported that two nuclear power plants are planned for the Almaty region, with another possible site on the Caspian coast.
In January, Tokayev instructed the government and “Samruk-Kazyna” to develop a long-term strategy for Kazakhstan’s nuclear industry, emphasizing the need for careful analysis and the use of modern, safe technologies when selecting sites for future nuclear power plants.