Kazakhstan will probably go ahead with plans to build a nuclear power station on Lake Balkhash, a popular holiday resort 400 km north of the capital, Almaty, according to the Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Agency. However, doubts over electricity demand and the economic crisis in Russia could cause delays to the project, Reuters reports. Construction was supposed to have started this year.
The economic situation in Kazakhstan is one of the key factors in deciding the fate of the project. Earlier forecasts suggested that the power would be required, but the situation is now less clear, the Atomic Energy Agency said.
Kazakhstan has been working with the Russian Atomic Energy Agency to develop the Balkhash project. Existing plans suggest that the plant will comprise three VVER-640 reactors. It is estimated that the total cost of the project could exceed $1 billion.
The first unit would take around seven years to complete. However, Kazakhstan is concerned that the economic turmoil in Russia could threaten completion of the project if it goes ahead.
Kazakhstan currently has five nuclear reactors in operation, but four are used for scientific purposes alone. The Lake Balkhash plant is one of up to three Kazakhstan has said it may build before 2030 to meet growing electricity demand.
The country has extensive supplies of uranium and produces 1240 t annually. The USA is helping Kazakhstan transport over three tonnes of weapons-grade material to the former soviet nuclear test site at Semipalatinsk.