Kazakhstan’s 2nd NPP may locate near once-secret Kurchatov town
Kazakhstan is considering the town of Kurchatov, once the secret center of operations for the Semipalatinsk Test Site, as a location for its second nuclear power plant, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.

Kurchatov is being considered as a potential location. In general, it’s up to a commission to decide. A necessary analysis will be conducted, said Kazakh Energy Minister Almassadam Satkaliyev.
The speaker recalled the Head of State’s instruction to establish a nuclear cluster in Kazakhstan, stressing that ‘the country needs several nuclear power plants to tap into its full nuclear potential’.
Today, we were tasked to choose a location for a second nuclear power plant, which we will do based on energy balance forecast, proximity to a load center, the size of the national power grid, said Satkaliyev.
Satkaliyev also said that there may be a simultaneous construction of two nuclear power plants due to the electricity shortage facing Kazakhstan unless the country builds up its power capacity.
Creation of a nuclear cluster allows to add new capacities, reduce the carbon footprint, contributing to our green commitments… We have all the necessary resources. Construction (of NPPs) will be carried out at different locations, said the minister.
Earlier, Energy Minister Almassadam Satkaliyev had ruled out holding a referendum on construction of a second nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan.