KAZAKHSTAN

(Updated 2014)

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1. Country overview

The Republic of Kazakhstan is a country located in the northern hemisphere (at the junction of Europe and Asia) between 55° 26 'and 40° 56' north latitude and between 45° 27 'and 87° 18' east longitude, i.e. it extends into the central part of the Eurasian continent and is split in two parts: a smaller part, about 5% of the country, is on the extreme eastern tip of Europe, and the rest is in Asia. The total length of the country’s border is about 14,000 km. Kazakhstan borders the Russian Federation to the north and west for a length of 7591 km, the longest land border in the world between two countries. To the east, Kazakhstan borders China for 1782 km. To the south it borders Kyrgyzstan for 1241.6 km, Uzbekistan for 2354 km and Turkmenistan for 426.0 kilometers. It has the 9th largest land area in the world with 2,724,900 km². It has a coastline of 2,320 kilometers on the Caspian Sea.

1.1.1. Governmental System

The Republic of Kazakhstan is a unitary state with a presidential form of administration. The head of state is the President. State authority in Kazakhstan is uniform and includes legislative power realized by the Parliament, executive power realized by the Government, which consist of central organs (ministries, departments and agencies) and local organs (akimats), judicial power realized by state courts (The Supreme court and local courts). The people are the only source of state power. Fundamental principles of the Republic are public concord and political stability, economic development for the benefit of all people, patriotism and resolution of the most important issues of state by democratic methods, including voting through republican referendum or in Parliament. In Kazakhstan, public and private properties are recognized and equally protected.

1.1.2. Geography and Climate

The climate is strongly continental, but with wide variations throughout the territory. Average temperatures in January range from -19°C in the north to -3°C in the south; July averages are 19°C in the north and 30°C in the south. Temperature can reach +49°C in South Kazakhstan and -57°C in the Aqmola region. Levels of precipitation are equally varied with average annual rainfall in mountainous regions reaching 1,600 mm and less than 100 mm in central desert areas. The lowest point is Vpadina Kaundy at 132 m below sea level and the highest point is Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) at 6,995 m above sea level.

1.1.3. Population

Kazakhstan's population according to the 2013 census is about 17.00 million comprising more than 100 ethnicities, but mainly Kazakh and Russian. At the beginning of 2008, the population growth rate is estimated at about 7%; the population density is estimated at 6.24 people per km2 (Table 1). The projected population by 2015 is estimated at 17.25 million. (Projected growth rate 1.47%)

FIG 1. Ethnic compostion of Kazakhstan

TABLE 1. POPULATION INFORMATION

 
 
Average annual growth rate (%)
1990 2000 2005 2011 2012 2013 2000 to 2013
Population (millions persons) 16.298 14.902 15.075 16.675 16.911 17 1.03
Population density (inhabitants/km2) 6.15 5.468 5.532 6.12 6.2 6.24 1.03
Urban population as % of total 57.01 56.35 57.15 54.66 54.8 54.9 0.78
Area (1000 km2)   2724.9

Source: The Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan on statistics

1.1.4. Economic Data

Kazakhstan possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves, as well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also is a large agricultural – livestock and grain – producer. Kazakhstan’s industrial sector rests on the extraction and processing of these natural resources and also on a growing machine-building sector, specializing in construction of equipment, tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items. In 1995-97, the pace of the government program of economic reform and privatization quickened, resulting in a substantial shifting of assets into the private sector. Kazakhstan enjoyed high rate of growth due largely to its booming energy resources sector, but also due to economic reform, good harvests, and foreign investment. Projected GDP growth in 2015 will be 5%

TABLE 2. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP)

Average annual growth rate (%)
  1990 2000 2005 2011 2012 2013 2000 to 2013
GDP (millions of current US$) 40,304 18,292 57,123.7 184,463.5 200,388.2 220,345 9.25
GDP per capita (current US$ per capita) 2,465 1,229 3,771 11,062 12,118 12,933 20.1
Dollar rate, tenge per 1 US dollar 142.13 132.88 146.62 149.1 182

Source: The Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan on statistics

1.2. Energy Information

1.2.1. Estimated available energy

Kazakhstan, the second largest of the former Soviet republics in territory, possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves (see Table 3) as well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also is a large agricultural – livestock and grain – producer. Kazakhstan’s industrial sector rests on the extraction and processing of these natural resources and also on a growing machine-building sector specializing in construction equipment, tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defence items.

TABLE 3. ESTIMATED ENERGY RESERVES

 
 
Fossil Fuels Nuclear Renewables
Solid Liquid Gas Uranium Hydro Solar
(1) (2) (3)
Total amount in specific units* 170,200 6,500 1,820 1,500,000 2,350 3,900,000
Total amount in Exajoule (EJ) 942.20 31.16 66.28 328.31(372.08 47.2 5.525

* Solid, Liquid: Million tons; Gas: Billion m3; Uranium: Metric tons; Hydro, Renewable: TW

Power plants fuelled with coal and crude oil are the basis of Kazakhstan’s electrical energy. Coal is the country’s largest industry, with planned further development if corresponding investments are secured. Coal reserves are estimated at 64 billion tons. Annual hard coal production is about 111.8 million tons; brown coal production is estimated at 4.6 million metric tons. Kazakhstan also has a well-developed oil and gas industry. More than 1,600 oil and gas fields have been located in Tengiz and Karachaganak, containing more than 2.9 billion tons of conditional fuel. Natural gas production was estimated at 5,416 million m3in 1993. Kazakhstan has begun building a major oil pipeline, 1,200 km from the west to the east. Construction of three new oil refineries is planned. Every year, about 25 million tons of liquid hydrocarbons and 7 billion m3 of natural gas are extracted. About 20% of the world’s uranium reserves are in Kazakhstan.

1.2.2. Energy Statistics

TABLE 4. ENERGY STATISTICS (EJ)

         Average annual growth rate (%)
  1990 2000 2005 2010* 2000 to year*
 Energy consumption**        
       - Total 5.55 2.31 3.01 3.83 28
- Solids*** 1.62 0.84 1 1.11 15
- Liquids 0.74 0.28 0.38 0.53 37
- Gases 0.43 0.19 0.18 0.81 172
- Other 2.76 1.01 1.45 1.37 24.5
 Energy production
       - Total 6.42 4.67 6.33 8.33 34
- Solids*** 2.5 1.45 1.56 1.99 18
- Liquids 1.08 1.48 2.28 2.88 27
- Gases 0.24 0.31 0.33 1.02 108
- Other**** 2.6 1.44 2.16 2.44 31.5
 Net import (Import - Export)
       - Total -0.24 -1.63 -2.58 -3.12

* Latest available data

** Energy consumption = Primary energy consumption in country.

*** Solid fuels include coal, lignite

**** - hydro, atomic in 1990 year, and other

Source: The Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Statistics

1.2.3. Energy Policy

Kazakhstan is a net energy exporter, with large reserves of uranium, oil and coal. Fossil-fired power plants are the basis of the electric energy. The energy policy aims to achieve energy independence through electric power production with maximum use of cheap, low-grade coal. Introduction of nuclear power is included as a necessary option for energy security.

There are six gas pipelines that connect Kazakhstan to other central Asian republics and Russia, but the gas producing regions in the western part of Kazakhstan are not connected to the populous southeast and industrial north parts of the country. Kazakhstan has a major need for more gas pipelines. Kazakhstan is rich in natural resources, but its power sector needs considerable rehabilitation and upgrading to improve the efficiency of energy production and use. The TRACECA Program (Transport System Europe-Caucasus-Asia) is developing an East-West corridor from Central Asia, through the Caucasus, across the Black Sea to Europe.

Kazakhstan is in the process of transition toward a free market, privatization in energy, and encouraging foreign investment to exploit the oil and gas resources of the country. In 1997, the government of Kazakhstan issued a decree on privatization and restructuring in the energy sector. Through this decree, all companies in the energy sector have gone through an incorporation process and are legally prepared for future privatization and restructuring. The Ministry of Oil and Gas and Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan are the main government entity responsible for implementing the policy.

The energy policy of Kazakhstan aims to achieve energy independence through electric power production with maximum use of its cheap, low-grade coal. Table 4.1 shows the dynamical increase of the production of coal, oil and natural gas in the last few years.

TABLE 4.5. DOMESTIC COAL, OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION

 Years Coal
(million tons)
Oil
(million tons)
Natural Gas
(billion m3)
1995 83.3 18.1 5.9
2000 74.9 30.6 11.5
2005 90.1 52.4 24.6
2010 103.51 67.9 36.2
2013 119.86 81.7 41.9

1.3. The electricity system

1.3.1. Electricity policy and decision making process

To ensure sustainable and balanced growth of the economy through the effective development of the power industry, the need to implement the following tasks:

  • Modernization, reconstruction of existing generating capacity and construction of new generating capacity.

  • Construction, modernization and reconstruction of power facilities.

  • The development of the coal industry.

  • Improving the structure of the electricity market:

  • Entering the market power;

  • the development of the spot market through legislative recognition norms sale-purchase certain volumes of electricity in spot trading.

  • Involvement in the balance of renewable energy sources.

1.3.2. Structure of electric power sector

The total length of electric lines of all voltages is more than 460,000 km. The first section of the international Siberia-Kazakhstan-Ural transmission line (1,900 km) is operational. This line is expanded to the south to connect north and south Kazakhstan and the power grids in Central and Middle Asian countries. Electricity production is given in Table 5.

The biggest producers of electricity in Kazakhstan are - the "Euro-Asian Power Corporation" (in 1998 14% of total power production), the Joint-stock Company "GRES-2" Pavlodar Region (8.9%), the "Kazakhmis Corporation" (8.5%), the Closed Joint-stock Company "Almaty Power Consolidated" (7.8%), the Open Joint-stock Company "Ispat-Karmet" (6.8%), LLP, "Karaganda Power" (4.4%) and the Joint-stock Company "Aluminium of Kazakhstan" (3.9%).

1.3.3. Main indicators

TABLE 5. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION AND CAPACITY

2005 2010 2012 2013
Capacity of electrical plants (GWe) 18.993 19.128 20.678 20.761
Thermal 16.774 17.576 17.650
Hydro 2.314 3.111 3.111
Electricity production (TWh) 67.847 82.629 90.53 91.88
Thermal 59.5 72.47 76.04 77.41
Hydro 8.21 10 14.48 14.47
Total electricity consumption (TWh) 67.717 76.560 91.4 89.57

* – Preliminary data

TABLE 6. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS

  2000 2006 2008 2010 2012 2013
Electricity production (TWh) 51.6 71.6 80.35 82.66 90.53 91.88
Electricity production per capita (GWh)  3.48 4.7 5.03 5.03 5.35 5.4

Source: The Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan on statistic

2. NUCLEAR POWER SITUATION

2.1. Historical Development and current organizational structure

2.1.1. Overview

The nuclear scientific-industrial complex in Kazakhstan was established as a unified part of the atomic industry and science in the former Soviet Union.

Kazakhstan's uranium industry consists of uranium prospecting firms, a number of natural mines using mining and underground leaching techniques, and a metallurgical plant producing fuel pellets for NPP fuel assemblies. The power plant at Aktau (MAEC) was shut down in June 1999. It consisted of natural gas units and a nuclear unit. The latter unit is a BN-350 sodium cooled fast neutron reactor.

On the territory of the former Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site three research reactors are engaged in testing and development of nuclear space engines and safe nuclear power plants (NPP). The fourth research reactor is located at the RSE Institute of Nuclear Physics, near Almaty.

The following enterprises are involved in the nuclear industry:

RSE "Institute of Nuclear Physics," situated in Almaty;

NNC, situated in Kurchatov, has the following branches:

"Institute of Atomic Energy"

"Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology";

2.1.2. Current organizational chart(s):

2.2. Nuclear Power Plants: Overview

2.2.1. Status and performance of nuclear power plants

Reactor Unit Type Net
Capacity
[MW(e)]
Status Operator Reactor
Supplier
Construction
Date
First
Criticality
Date
First Grid
Date
Commercial
Date
Shutdown
Date
UCF
for
2014
AKTAU FBR 52 Permanent Shutdown MAEC-KAZ MAEC-KAZ 1964-10-01 1972-11-01 1973-07-16 1973-07-16 1999-04-22
Data source: IAEA - Power Reactor Information System (PRIS).
Note: Table 7 is completely generated from PRIS data to reflect the latest available information and may be more up to date than the text of the report.

2.2.2. Plant upgrading, plant life management and renewals

BN-350 reactor facility - fast neutron sodium-cooled reactor - is located near Aktau city in the part of the eastern Caspian Sea shore belonging to the Republic of Kazakhstan. It was designed and built for electricity generation and seawater desalination for the Aktau region.

The BN-350 reactor was commissioned in 1973 and operated for its design life of 20 years.

In 1993, on the basis of estimation of actual reactor condition, qualified personnel availability and taking into consideration significant progress in fulfillment of measures by safety enhancement, a lifetime extension until 2003 was granted. Thereafter it operated on the basis of annual licenses of the regulatory body - The Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Committee (KAEC) and positive conclusion of its safety level from General Designer (VNIPIET, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation), Chief Designer (OKBM, Nizhni Novgorod, Russian Federation) and research Manager (FEI, Obninsk, Russian Federation) of reactor facility.

Due to financial and technical problems it was concluded that the further use of the reactor is not safe. In April 1999, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan adopted the Decree on the Decommission of BN-350 reactor.

As the decision on the reactor decommissioning was adopted before the end of scheduled operation (2003), the plan to decommission the BN-350 reactor had not yet been developed. To determine the activities required for ensuring reactor safety and preparation for decommissioning, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan had developed and approved a "Plan of priority measures on BN-350 reactor decommissioning". This plan has the status of managerial and ruling document and defines the activity on provision of safety for the BN-350 and preparation of decommissioning while the "Project of BN-350 Decommissioning" is being approved. By now, the following activities have been fulfilled:

  1. All spent nuclear fuel had been transferred from the interim spent fuel storage facility at the BN-350 site to the long-term spent fuel storage facility at Baikal-1 site.

  2. Drainage of primary radioactive sodium has been carried out and is in storage vessels. Secondary nonradioactive sodium is drained and utilized.

  3. Technical design of the Liquid Radioactive Waste Processing Facility has been developed.

  4. Technical task for the Solid Radioactive Waste Processing Facility design has been developed.

  5. The main works on Combined Engineering and Radiation Survey (KIRO) of systems and components of primary and secondary cooling circuits, as well as of other reactor plant engineering systems and external communications have been completed.

    Scheduled decommissioning phases

DECOMMISSIONNING PHASE
Dates


From
To
Reactor core defuelling
1999
2000
Partial dismantling
2000
Continued
Spent fuel packaging period
1999
2001
Spent fuel store period in the reactor pool
2001
2010

Management of fuel removal

FUEL MANAGEMENT
Dates


From
To
Transfer to at-reactor facility
1999
2001
Storage in on-site facility
2001
Continued
Under water storage
2001
Continued
Encapsulation
1999
2001
“Cold run” with TUK-123
December of 2009
TUKs with spent nuclear fuel have been transferred to long-term spent fuel storage facility at Baikal-1 site
January of 2010
November 2010
TUKs with spent nuclear fuel are set to long-term spent fuel storage facility at Baikal-1 site
November 2010
Continued

2.3. Future development of Nuclear Power sector

According to Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan NPP will be constructed after Government Resolution

No data available data for sections 2.3.1-2.3.5

TABLE 8. PLANNED NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Station/Project name Type Capacity Expected Construction Start Year Expected Commercial Year
NA NA NA NA NA

2.4. Organization involved in construction of NPPs

Not applicable

2.5. Organization involved in operation of NPPs

The BN-350 reactor is owned by National Atomic Company "KAZATOMPROM" and operated by LLP "MAEC-Kazatomprom". The reactor was shut down according the decree of the Kazakhstan Government on April 22, 1999. The decision was taken to place it into SAFSTOR state for 50 years with subsequent final dismantling. Now the works on putting of the reactor into SAFSTOR are carrying out. The fuel is unloaded and packaged into canisters and now they are in a temporary store in the reactor cooling ponds. TUKs with spent fuel are transferred from BN-350 site long-term spent fuel storage facility at Baikal-1 site.

About 200 people are working at the power plant. There are 4 shifts. The task of these shifts is maintenance of the reactor in nuclear, radiation and fire safety.

2.6. Organization involved in decommissioning of NPPs

In the decommissioning of nuclear power plants involved different organizations. Some of them are:

LTD "KATEP"

RSE "Institute of Nuclear Physics

National Atomic Company "KAZATOMPROM

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CENTER OF NUCLEAR SAFETY TECHNOLOGY

2.7. Fuel cycle and waste management

Kazakhstan has more than 50 uranium deposits in six provinces: the Kokshetau province in the north and the Pribalkhashsky province in the south have endogenetic type uranium deposits; Iliskaya, Chu-Sarysu, Syr-Dariya, and Prikaspiy provinces have endogenic type deposits. Deposits in Chu-Sayusu and Syr-Dariya provinces are located in sand penetrating sediments and are useful for in-situ leaching processes.

Waste from uranium mining and milling constitutes more than 90% of all radioactive waste in Kazakhstan. Therefore, implementation of the Republic's Concept on the radioactive waste management is the main task.

The Ulba Metallurgical Plant (UMZ) started production of UO2 fuel pellets in 1976. Physical and chemical technologies are used at all stages of production, from treatment of UF6 material, to conversion into UO2, production of UO2 pellets, and sintering of the pellets. Quality control is maintained during all process stages. The design capacity of the plant is 2,000 tons of pellets per year. Fuel assemblies from UMZ are used at nuclear power plants in Russia, the Ukraine, and other countries. The U235 content is 1.6-5 %. UMZ also produces rare earth metal products and super conducting materials.

2.8. Research and Development

2.8.1. R&D organizations

RSE «Institute of Nuclear Physics»

RSE «National Nuclear Centre»

2.8.2. Development of advanced nuclear technologies

Kazakhstan has three research reactors at the National Nuclear Centre and one research reactor at Institute Nuclear Physics where the following research is carried out:

  • radiation material science; study of the interaction between construction materials and coolants; investigation of fission produced emission from fuel rods, its precipitation and filtration under different conditions;

  • safety of nuclear power plants; fuel assemblies and rod tests at transition and break-down modes of operation; simulation of reactor core fragment melting and interaction of melted material with coolant;

  • development and implementation of nuclear physics methods and technologies; production of isotopes for different applications, for example, thallium-201 chloride for early diagnostics of heart decease.

The work on creation and development of Kazakhstan nuclear power composed one of the principal sections in the Republican Target Scientific-and-Technical Program elaborated in 1992 - 1993 and defined goals, tasks and directions of the National Nuclear Center and its institutions.

Kazakhstan Governmental Resolution #925 dated August 20, 2002 adopts the development concept for uranium industry and nuclear power engineering of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the years 2002-2030. The tasks put by in the concept aim at transformation of Kazakhstan power engineering into a high-tech, science intensive, dynamically developing branch that would become a solid basis of forced and sustainable development of the national economics and the nation's prosperity improvement. Now, a national program of RK nuclear industry and power engineering development is under elaboration.

The Program covers the period 2000 to 2030 and defines a strategy of the first stage in creating and developing the national nuclear power.

One of the first steps in carrying out this program was to conduct a feasibility study for construction of nuclear power plants. The NNC RK specialists performed a great work to conduct feasibility studies for building nuclear power plants in certain regions (South Kazakhstan NPP), to validate investments in construction of low-power atomic plants in Leninogorsk and Kurchatov, to develop feasibility proposals on use of nuclear power sources in order to solve problems of Almaty heat-and-power supply.

A successful development of the nuclear power is impossible without solving problems of its safe operation. To create reactors of enhanced safety and systems for localizing design and out-of-design accidents there is a need for detailed analysis of processes related to core melting, fuel, material and nuclear reactor structure behavior in transient and accident modes. One of the directions to validate nuclear power safety is experimental simulation of processes accompanying specific phases in evolution of NPP severe accidents that involve reactor core melting.

At present final phases of severe accidents are least examined when core materials melt (corium) falls on a lower head of the reactor power vessel. The work in this direction on the Semipalatinsk experimental base was started in 1983 and is still continued.

The uniqueness of NNC RK experimental base, results and experience gained through studying the behavior of nuclear reactor fuel, material and structure in simulating transient and accident operation modes cause interest of specialists from different countries.

The most important studies in recent years are those on two projects: experimental studies to validate light-water reactor safety (COTELS project) and experimental studies to validate safety of fast reactors (EAGLE project).

2.8.3. International Co-operation and Initiatives

Kazakhstan national projects under the program of technical cooperation with

IAEA for 2012-2014

1
Nuclear Knowledge Management and Preservation in Kazakhstan.
KAZ/0/003
2
High-Performance Neutron Activation Analysis for Needs of Kazakhstan Industry.
KAZ/8/006
3
Supporting Upgrades and Conversion of WWR-K Reactor to Low-enriched Uranium Fuel.
KAZ/9/010
4
Supporting Radioecological Monitoring.
KAZ/9/011

European Regional projects of IAEA for 2014-2015 in which Kazakhstan is taking part

1
Establishing National Legal Frameworks


RER0038
2
Extending and Diversifying the Application of Nuclear Technology in Cultural Heritage
RER0039
3
Enhancing Use and Safety of Research Reactors through Networking, Coalitions and Shared Best Practices
RER1007
4
Supporting Air Quality Management (Phase II)
RER1013
5
Introducing and Harmonizing Standardized Quality Control Procedures for Radiation Technologies


RER1014
6
Establishing a Safety Infrastructure for a National Nuclear Power Programme
RER2006
7
Strengthening Capabilities for Nuclear Power Plant Lifetime Management for Long Term Operation
RER2010
8
Enhancing Energy Planning, Nuclear Power Infrastructures and Nuclear Safety Oversight for Countries Considering Developing or Expanding Nuclear Power Programmes
RER2011
9
Supporting Fruit Fly Pest Prevention and Management in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean
RER5020
10
Strengthening Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography (SPECT/CT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/CT Hybrid Imaging Applications for Chronic Disease Diagnosis
RER6026
11
Establishing Quality Assurance/Quality Control in X Ray Diagnostics
RER6028
12
Improving Radiotherapy Services through Strengthened Knowledge of Radiation Oncologists and Radiation Therapists
RER6029
13
Building Capacity for Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology in the Commonwealth of Independent States
RER6030
14
Strengthening Medical Physics in Radiation Medicine
RER6031
15
Building Capacity for Developing and Implementing Integrated Programmes for Remediation of the Areas Affected by Uranium Mining
RER7006
16
Supporting Decommissioning and Waste Management for the Chernobyl, Ignalina and A1 Nuclear Power Plants
RER9106
17
Strengthening Radioactive Waste Management Capabilities
RER9107
18
Strengthening Education and Training Infrastructures and Building Competence in Radiation Safety
RER9109
19
Strengthening the Inspection Capabilities and Programmes of the Regulatory Authorities
RER9110
20
Establishing a Sustainable National Regulatory Infrastructure for Nuclear and Radiation Safety
RER9111
21
Supporting Decommissioning Implementation for Facilities Using Radioactive Material
RER9120
22
Supporting Environmental Remediation Programmes
RER9121
23
Supporting Safe Management of Uranium Production Legacy Sites
RER9122
24
Supporting the Return to Normal Radiological Environmental Conditions for the Territories Affected by the Chernobyl Accident
RER9123
25
Establishing Enhanced Approaches to the Control of Public Exposure to Radon
RER9127
26
Strengthening National Capabilities for Radiological Protection of Workers and Occupational Exposure Control
RER9128
27
Strengthening Nuclear Safety Assessment Capabilities Through the use of the Safety Assessment, Education and Training (SAET) Programme
RER9129
28
Strengthening and Harmonizing National Capabilities for Response to Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies
RER9130
29
Improving Operational Safety of Nuclear Power Plants
RER9131
30
Strengthening Member State Technical Capabilities in Medical Radiation Protection
RER9132

2.9. Human resources development

When Kazakhstan officially decides to start a NPP, it will be necessary to have a constant flow of highly qualified human resources on all topics related to nuclear power, but since the country has not taken any decision yet, preparing of these human resources is not an immediate priority

2.10. Stakeholder Communication

The KAEC is the institution in charge of interacting with stakeholders concerned in the country’s current situation in the nuclear field. One of its roles is to supervision on nuclear energy uses spread Public Information and Promotion office by means of presentations, seminars, visits to nuclear and radiological facilities, and through its website.

3. NATIONAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS

3.1. Safety Authority and the Licensing Process

3.1.1. Regulatory authority(s)

Atomic Energy Committee of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the regulatory authority.

3.1.2. Licensing process

The licensing stages for nuclear installations can be briefly represented as follows:

  • Application for the License;

  • Analysis of application materials;

  • Inspection at the nuclear installation;

  • Conclusion on application materials examination;

  • Conclusion on nuclear installation inspection;

  • General conclusion on obtaining license; License.

3.2. Main National Laws and Regulations

Main national laws

  • Law on use of atomic energy;

  • Law on radiation safety of population;

  • Law on licensing;

  • Ecology Code

Main Regulations in nuclear power

  • Provision on licensing rules and qualifying requirements claimed to licensable kinds of activities in the sphere of atomic energy use

  • Regulation on the Atomic Energy Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

  • Technical rules “Nuclear and radiation safety of research nuclear facilities”, adopted by the Government Provision

  • Technical rules “Nuclear and radiation safety of NPP”, adopted by the Government Provision

  • Technical rules “Nuclear and radiation safety”, adopted by the Government Provision

All regulating documents have been compiled into a "List of main technical documents of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of atomic energy use”.

REFERENCES

None

APPENDIX 1: INTERNATIONAL, MULTILATERAL AND BILATERAL AGREEMENTS

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

NPT related agreement INFCIRC/504
Entry into force
11.08.1995
Additional protocol
Entry into force
6.02.2004
Supplementary agreement on provision of technical assistance by the IAEA
Entry into force
25.03.1997
Agreement on privileges and immunities
Entry into force
9.04.1998
NPT
Entry into force
14.02.1994
Convention on the physical protection of nuclear material
Entry into force
22.12.2004
Convention on early notification of a nuclear accident
Entry into force
08.04.2010
Convention on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency
Entry into force
08.04.2010
Convention on nuclear safety
Entry into force
08.06.2010
Joint convention on the safety of spent fuel management and on the safety of radioactive waste management
Entry into force
08.06.2010
Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage
Entry into force
10.02.2011
Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material
Signed
19.03.2011
ZANGGER Committee
member
18.11.2008
Nuclear Export Guidelines
Signed
13.05.2002
International Convention on Struggle with Acts of Nuclear Terrorism
Ratified
14.05.2008

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS

  1. The Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Peaceful use of Atomic Energy.

  2. The Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on Transportation of fission materials.

  3. Agreement of KAEA and GAN of the Russian Federation on co-operation in the field of nuclear safety.

  4. Agreement of KAEA and NRC of the USA on technical information exchange and co-operation in the field of nuclear safety.

  5. The Agreement for Co-operation between the United States of America and the Republic of Kazakhstan concerning Peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

  6. The Agreement for co-operation between European Atomic Energy Community and the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of nuclear safety.

  7. The Agreement for co-operation between European Atomic Energy Community and the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of guided nuclear fusion.

  8. The Agreement for cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Kazakhstan concerning Peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

 

APPENDIX 2: MAIN ORGANIZATIONS, INSTITUTIONS AND COMPANIES INVOLVED IN NUCLEAR POWER RELATED ACTIVITIES

NATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITIES
Atomic Energy Committee
of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Orynbor St. 10, House of Ministries
Astana, 010000
Tel: 7 7172 50 29 53
Fax: 7 7172 50 30 73
E-mail: adm@kaec.kz
http://www.kaec.kz
OTHER RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONS

Nuclear Technology Safety Centre
Lisa Chaikinoi St. 4
Almaty, 050020
Tel: 7 7272 646 801
Fax: 7 7272 646 803
http://www.ntsc.kz
Republican State Enterprise “National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan”
Lenin St. 6, Vostochno-Kazakhstanskaya oblast, 071100
Tel:. 7 722-51-2-33-33,
Fax: 7 722-51 2-38-58
Republican State Enterprise “National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan” , branch Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology”
Krasnoarmejskaya St. 4, Vostochno-Kazakhstanskaya oblast, 071100
Tel./Fax: 7 7225 123 413
Republican State Enterprise “National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan” , branch Institute of Atomic Energy,Krasnoarmejskaya St. 10, Vostochno-Kazakhstanskaya oblast, , 071100
Tel: 7 7225 123 202
Fax: 7 7225 123 125
Republican State Enterprise Institute of Nuclear Physics, Ibragimova St.1, Almaty , 050032
Tel: 7 7272 546 467
Fax: 7 7272 546 517
"MAEC-Kazatomprom" LLP, Aktau, Mangistauskaya oblast, 130000
Tel: 7 7292 564 821
Fax: 7 7292 334 364
National Atomic Company "KAZATOMPROM"
Kunaev st. 10, Astana, 010000
Tel: 7 7272 615 425
Fax: 7 7272 503 541
http://www.kazatomprom.kz
Joint Stock Company "UMZ", Abai St. 102
Ust-Kamenogorsk, 071100
Tel: 7 7232 298 009
Fax: 7 7232 240 683
http://www.pjsc-ulba.com/eng/index.htm

Report coordinator:

Murat Tulegenov

Institution: KAEC

Contacts: m.tulegenov@kaec.kz

Focal person: Igor Panov

Institution: KAEC

Contacts: i.panov@kaec.kz

Attached files

Kazakhstan CNPP 2014.pdf