Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Agency has selected four companies as potential suppliers for reactors at the country’s first nuclear power plant, according to Interfax. The candidates are Russia’s Rosatom, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), France’s EDF, and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).

Kazakhstan’s adoption of nuclear power was approved by a referendum held in October. Here President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev casts his vote

Rosatom has proposed its VVER-1200 reactor design, while KHNP offers the APR-1000 or APR-1400 models. EDF is presenting its EPR1200, and CNNC has put forward the HPR-1000, also known as Hualong One. Each reactor is estimated to cost approximately $5 billion.

The nuclear facility is planned for the Zhambyl district in the Almaty region and will be constructed by an international group of nuclear engineering firms. To evaluate the proposals, Astana will establish a dedicated commission. A final decision on the supplier or consortium is expected by the end of November.

The agency stated: “The final decision on the choice of a supplier or consortium for the implementation of the project will be made at a meeting of the interdepartmental commission, taking into account the national interests of the country.”

Kazakhstan leads the world in uranium production but currently lacks its own nuclear power infrastructure. Over the coming months, the government plans to develop a construction strategy for three nuclear plants. The aim is for nuclear energy to account for 5% of the nation’s energy supply by 2035.