Russia and Kazakhstan signed a document on the project for the republic’s first nuclear power plant, Reuters reports.
The agreement was signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Kazakhstan. The parties also formalized an agreement on a Russian export loan to finance the plant’s construction.
The nuclear power plant is planned to be built near the village of Ulken on the shores of Balkhash Lake. Prior to this, a referendum was held in Kazakhstan, in which the majority of participants supported the construction of a nuclear power plant.
For Astana, the project is expected to be a key step in energy development, and for Moscow, another major nuclear project in Central Asia. However, the construction timeline and financing parameters will depend on further intergovernmental agreements.
