Not Iran, Russia to help THIS Muslim nation in its nuclear ambitions; the country is..., not Pakistan

India.com

21-06-2025

Russia will help build a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan. (File)
Kazakhstan nuclear power plant: Earlier this month, Israel triggered the Israel-Iran war when it launched deadly airstrikes on Iranian cities on the pretext of Tehran being close to developing a nuclear weapon. However, there is another little-known Muslim country which has nuclear ambitions of its own, and Russia has announced open support for its nuclear endeavor. Kazakhstan to build nuclear power plant with Russia's help
The country in question is Kazakhstan, a former constituent of the erstwhile Soviet Union, who is reportedly working on setting up a nuclear power plant in collaboration with Russia's state-owned nuclear energy giant Rosatom, according to officials of the Central Asian Countries Authority.
Kazakhstan, one of the most resource-rich countries in Central Asia, is the world top producer of uranium, and now looks to utilize its vast uranium resources to develop its own civilian nuclear program with Russia's help. The country supplies supplying 43 percent of the world's uranium consumption, but does not have enough electricity production to meet its domestic needs.
As per details, the Kazakhstan nuclear power plant was approved in 2024, and will be built in a village near Ulken near Lake Balkhash, the country's second largest lake. China and France also made bids
Notably, China, France and South Korea had also tried secure the deal for the Kazakhstan nuclear power plant, but the bid was ultimately won by Russia. According to media reports, China's National Nuclear Corporation, French EDF and South Korean Hydro and Nuclear Power Company had placed bids, but Rosatom secured the deal.
However, Kazakhstan officials said that these three companies will also be included in a consortium led by Rosatom.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the country aims to maintain good relations with both Russia and China, adding that Rosatom has offered to finance the entire project. Tokayev's statement comes at a time when Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Kazakhstan for the upcoming China-Central Asia Summit.
Interestingly, Kazakhstan had several nuclear power plants and hosted Soviet nuclear weapons, as well as being a nuclear testing site, when it was part of the Soviet Union. However, after the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, Kazakhstan, along with other former Soviet states like Belarus and Ukraine, gave up its nuclear weapons and closed the power plants.