(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 21. Kazakhstan aims to begin the construction of its first nuclear power plant in 2029, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Agency, Almassadam Satkaliyev, told journalists, Trend reports.

He made the remarks at the Kazakh President's residence in Astana on the sidelines of a meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Satkaliyev stated that project planning and survey activities will continue into the next year. To date, 50 wells have been successfully drilled, and analysis of the soil composition is currently in progress. Additionally, hydrological, hydrotechnical, and engineering assessments have been completed, topographic surveys have been conducted, and two hydrological monitoring posts have been established.

In October 2024, Kazakhstan held a referendum in which 71.12 percent of voters supported the establishment of nuclear power facilities, with a voter turnout of 63.66 percent. The plant will be developed in partnership with Russia's Rosatom. On November 17, the name for the new nuclear power plant was chosen through a nationwide vote: the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant.

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