Two U.S. companies may be shortlisted as Kazakhstan’s technology suppliers for NPP construction

Two U.S. companies may be shortlisted as technology suppliers for the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant, Minister of Energy Almasadam Satkaliyev said after the session of the Majilis, lower chamber of the Parliament, Kazinform News Agency reports.

Rosatom is one of the potential suppliers. As you know, France’s EDF, as well as South Korean, Chinese companies have submitted their applications. Besides, we additionally review applications from two U.S. companies - General Electric and NuScale, thus, we consider the technologies of installing small modular reactors, he said.

The minister said that final decision on the NPP construction would be taken after the nationwide referendum.

As I said earlier, decisions will be made after the referendum. Questions (for the referendum) will be formed in accordance with the constitutional legislation on the national referendum. We will inform you on the progress in that respect. As part of preparations for the referendum, the Ministry of Energy provided its experts and basic information for the groups leaving for the regions to meet with the population and explain the government’s position on the construction of the NPP in Kazakhstan, the minister added.