Rosatom will lead consortium to build Kazakhstan’s first nuclear plant

Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, will lead an international consortium to build the country’s first nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan. The choice of Rosatom as consortium leader was announced by Kazakhstan’s atomic energy agency on Saturday (June 14). The agency said it had reviewed several proposals and assessed them on nuclear safety standards and other criteria, determining that presented by Rosatom as “the most optimal and advantageous.”
In October, Kazakhstan voted in favour of building its first nuclear power plant. A month later, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Central Asian nation and discussed boosting energy and economic ties, promoting Rosatom as “ready for new large-scale projects” in Kazakhstan. This intervention has provoked criticism from some Kazakhs who are concerned about excessive Russian involvement in their country.