Does Kazakhstan need a nuclear power plant?

Good news about the construction of a copper smelter in the Abai region. Kazakhstan needs to develop and increase production, especially regarding raw materials extracted in the country. I won't write about the obvious things like jobs, added value, and export foreign exchange earnings.

However, increasing such production inevitably brings a whole chain of interconnected decisions. Especially, considering our position on achieving carbon neutrality.

Firstly, there is electricity. I haven't seen the plant's parameters, but it must be assumed that it consumes a significant amount, and this electricity needs to come from somewhere. If we rely on coal-fired capacity, huge investments will be needed in equipment for capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions.

Moreover, the plant itself will produce emissions and, according to standards, will have to not only invest in CO2 capture and storage technologies but also engage in planting forests or other vegetation for sequestration.

Plus, it's important not to forget about electricity transportation, and with our distances, this significantly increases its cost, which ultimately, like a snowball, forces an increase in production, consuming even more energy and emitting more CO2 and its equivalent.

More expensive electricity means more money needed, more production, more consumption, more emissions.

Renewable sources are good, but it will cost more than planting another couple of forests the size of Semey Ormany.

Multiply this by the current and future electricity deficits, and for the development of not only production but the country as a whole, we have two options left:

1. Construction of a nuclear power plant,

2. Modernization of coal-fired plants and maintenance of technologies

In the first case, it is important to assess the safety of the site and technologies, understand the implementation timelines, and who will service the facility. In terms of emissions and electricity cost, nuclear power plants have no competitors.

In the second case, we face incredible costs, and as a result, an increase in electricity prices. Global practice shows that discounting in such a case only causes a proportional increase in cost and ultimately does not affect the consumer.

Despite the fact that the answer is obvious, I think the choice should be made by competent individuals.

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