Kazakhstan has unique reserves of coal, uranium, oil, natural gas, metals and other ores, has a strong potential in hydropower and in the use of other renewable energy sources. In the structure of the extracted natural energy resources of Kazakhstan, the main share is made up of coal and uranium reserves. Due to its significant reserves of fossil fuels, Kazakhstan is one of the twenty world leaders in the production of primary energy resources.

Fossil-fuel power plants are the mainstay of electricity generation. The energy policy is aimed at achieving energy independence through the production of electricity with the maximum use of cheap low-grade coal. The introduction of nuclear power is included as a necessary option for ensuring energy security.

The fuel and energy complex plays a key role in the economic and social well-being of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Revenues from the sale of products from the fuel and energy sectors allow us to actively develop the infrastructure of Kazakhstan, transfer advanced technologies, contribute to the innovative development of the economy, guarantee employment of a significant part of the working-age population, and contribute to the development of the social sphere.

Renewable energy sources have been positioned as one of the vectors of development of the energy complex of Kazakhstan in recent years.

Due to the created conditions, the use of renewable energy is steadily growing. Over the past 6 years, the installed capacity of renewable energy facilities has increased almost 10-fold – from 178 MW in 2014 to 1635 MW in 2020. [1]

Currently, there are 120 renewable energy facilities in the republic with an installed capacity of 1806 MW:

• 29 wind power plant facilities with a capacity of 511.3 MW;

• 47 solar power plants with a capacity of 1031.6 MW;

• 39 hydroelectric power plants with a capacity of 255.08 MW;

• 5 bioelectric power plants with a capacity of 7.82 MW.

In 2021, it was planned to introduce 22 renewable energy facilities with a capacity of 382 MW (5 hydroelectric power plants – 44.59 MW, 4 solar power plants – 76.95 MW, 13 wind power plants – 259.65 MW). Of these, 6 facilities with a total capacity of 171 MW were put into operation.

For the Republic of Kazakhstan, the electric power industry is of particular importance, since the competitiveness of key sectors of the economy and the quality of life of the population largely depend on reliable and high-quality energy supply to consumers at affordable prices. In 2020, electricity generation amounted to 108 billion kWh. This is enough to fully cover the needs of the economy and the population. This result is achieved due to the operation of 179 stations.

The main share, or 68.9 % of electricity generation, is accounted for by coal, 20.0 % — by gas, 8.8 % by large hydroelectric power plants and 2.8 % by renewable energy sources and small hydroelectric power plants.

There are several challenges in the industry today:

• Existing heat and power facilities in the regions require modernization, capacity expansion and reconstruction;

• The level of wear of generating, transmitting and auxiliary equipment, as well as industrial buildings and structures in certain cases exceeds the emergency level. The average wear of generating equipment of power plants is at 53%; the main fund of energy transmission organizations is at 63%.

The coal industry is one of the most important resource industries of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is among the top ten countries in terms of coal reserves. More than 90% of the proven coal reserves are concentrated in the north and central part of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan has significant coal reserves to provide the energy industry with fuel. The balance reserves of coal allow the country to fully meet domestic needs and export significant volumes of coal products.

During the years of independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, coal mining enterprises produced about 2.6 billion tons of coal, more than 600.0 million tons were exported to the near and far abroad.

In 2020, the production of coal and lignite (excluding coal concentrate) amounted to 109.2 million tons, which is about 99% of the amount produced in 2019.

Today, the coal industry of the republic provides the generation of about 70% of electricity in Kazakhstan; one hundred percent loading of coke production fully meets the fuel needs of the municipal sector and the population.

The oil and gas complex of Kazakhstan plays a significant role in the development of the country, provides a significant part of tax revenues to the country's budget and generates about a quarter of GDP.

The volume of oil and gas condensate production in the republic has increased more than three and a half times since independence: from 25 million tons to 90.5 million tons per year in 2019. Kazakhstan ranks 17th among the countries in the world in terms of oil production.

The main production of hydrocarbons in Kazakhstan is concentrated in the three largest fields: Tengiz, Karachaganak and Kashagan. The development of the fields is carried out by established consortia with the participation of multinational vertically integrated companies.

The nuclear industry of Kazakhstan includes geological exploration, production of uranium and production of natural uranium concentrates, uranium oxide powders and fuel pellets of uranium dioxide.

Kazakhstan has the second largest (14% of the world's reserves) reliably confirmed proven reserves of uranium in the world. However, 67% of them are suitable for mining by the method of underground borehole leaching, which is the most environmentally friendly and the lowest cost method of uranium mining.

In Kazakhstan, out of 56 explored deposits with balance reserves of uranium, the right of subsurface use is granted for 14 deposits, the remaining 42 deposits are in reserve.

As of 31 December 2020, total mineral resources (including reserves) it is 771.6 thousand tons.

Since 2009, Kazakhstan has been ranked first in the world in terms of natural uranium production. Over the years of Kazakhstan's independence, the volume of uranium production has increased more than 24 times, from 796 tons in 1997 to 19.5 thousand tons in 2020.

TABLE 1. ESTIMATED AVAILABLE ENERGY SOURCES

*Coal: billion tons; Crude oil: billion barrels; Natural gas: billion m³; Uranium: tons;

n.a.: data not available;

* [2], [3]

TABLE 1.1. PROJECTED POTENTIAL CAPACITIES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

TABLE 2. ENERGY CONSUMPTION

*Latest available data, please note that compound annual growth rate may not be representative of actual average growth.

**Total energy derived from primary and secondary generation sources. Figures do not reflect potential heat output that may result from electricity co-generation.

—: data not available.

Source(s): United Nations Statistical Division, OECD/IEA and IAEA RDS-1

The electric power industry includes the production, transmission and supply of electric and thermal energy and is the basis for the functioning of the economy and the life support of the country.

For the Republic of Kazakhstan, the electric power industry is of particular importance, since the competitiveness of key sectors of the economy and the quality of life of the population largely depend on reliable and high-quality energy supply to consumers at affordable prices.

As a result of the reforms, electricity and heat energy markets have been formed, the subjects of which are energy enterprises of various forms of ownership.

In order to ensure the balance reliability of the energy system of Kazakhstan, a model of electric power market was introduced from January 1, 2019.

Electricity generation

Electricity production in Kazakhstan is carried out by 179 power stations of various forms of ownership.

Electric power stations are divided into power plants of national significance, industrial purpose, and regional purpose.

Electric power transmission

Electric networks of the Republic of Kazakhstan are a set of substations, switchgears and power transmission lines connecting them, with a voltage of 0.4–1,150 kW, intended for the transmission and (or) distribution of electric energy.

The role of the backbone network in the Unified Electric Power System of the Republic of Kazakhstan is performed by the national electric network, which provides electric connections between the regions of the republic and the energy systems of neighboring states (Russian Federation, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Uzbekistan), as well as the issuance of electric energy by electric stations and its transfer to wholesale consumers.

Electricity transmission in Kazakhstan is carried out by 19 regional energy companies and about 130 small transmission companies that control regional-level electrical networks with a voltage of 0.4–220 kW.

Regional-level electrical networks provide electrical connections within the regions, as well as the transmission of electrical energy to retail consumers.

Electric power supply

The electric energy supply sector is represented by energy supply organizations that purchase electric energy from energy-producing organizations and then sell it to retail consumers. Some energy supply organizations perform the functions of "guaranteeing suppliers" of electricity.

Introduction of digital technologies in the electric power industry

Currently, digital technologies are being introduced into the electric power industry in the main electric networks of the Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC) joint-stock company (JSC):

• Microprocessor relay protection devices;

• Supervisory control and data acquisition dispatch control system;

• Automated commercial electricity metering system;

• Wide area measurement systems;

• Fiber-optic communication lines;

• Controlled shunt reactors;

• Phase-reversal transformers.

The project "Automation of control modes of the Unified Electric Power System of Kazakhstan" is being implemented, which is included in the State Program "Digital Kazakhstan", consisting of three components: automatic frequency and power control, centralized emergency control system and synchrophasor technologies based on wide area control systems.

Single electric power system of the Republic of Kazakhstan (SEPS) – the set of electric power plants, power transmission lines and electric substations ensuring reliable and qualitative power delivery to consumers in Kazakhstan.

The electric power industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan includes the following sectors:

• electricity production;

• transmission of electrical energy;

• supply of electrical energy;

• consumption of electrical energy;

• other activities in the electric power industry.

Electricity generation sector

Electricity in Kazakhstan is generated by 179 power plants of various forms of ownership. As on 01 January 2021 the total installed capacity of power plants in Kazakhstan was 23621,6 MW and available capacity is 20078,6 MW.

The power plants are branched into power plants of national importance, power plants of industrial importance and those of regional importance.

The power plants of national importance are the large thermal power plants generating and selling electricity to consumers at the electricity wholesale market of Kazakhstan:

• Ekibastuz GRES-1 LLP named after B.G. Nurzhanov;

• Ekibastuz GRES-2 Power Plant JSC;

• Power plant of EEC JSC, ERG, Eurasian Group;

• Main distribution power station Topar LLP;

• Zhambyl GRES JSC named after T.I. Baturov. [5]

TABLE 3. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION

*Latest available data, please note that compound annual growth rate may not be representative of actual average growth.

**Electricity transmission losses are not deducted.

Source:United Nations Statistical Division, OECD/IEA and IAEA RDS-1 

TABLE 4. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS

*Latest available data.

Source: RDS-1 and RDS-2

—: data not available.

The state policy in the field of the use of atomic energy is implemented in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 12 January 2016 "On the use of atomic energy".

The nuclear industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan is represented in various aspects of development, including the nuclear industry, science and technology, the development of nuclear medicine, thermonuclear and accelerator technologies and the operation of research nuclear reactors.

Kazakhstan has extensive experience in operating nuclear facilities. In the period from 1973 to 1999, the BN-350 reactor was operated in Aktau, the world's first experimental-industrial fast neutron reactor with a sodium coolant. Currently, work is underway to decommission the reactor.

On the territory of the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, three research reactors were engaged in testing and developing nuclear space engines and safe nuclear power plants. The fourth research reactor is located at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, near Almaty.

The following enterprises are involved in the nuclear industry of the country:

• National Nuclear Company "Kazatomprom";

• Republican State Enterprise (RSE) "National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan";

• RSE "Institute of Nuclear Physics";

• LLP "MAEC-Kazatomprom";

The importance of diversification of electric energy sources was the reason for carrying out a complex of works to consider the possibility of building a nuclear power plant in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Today, Kazakhstan has all the objective prerequisites for the creation and development of the nuclear industry, namely:

• The presence of a significant amount of proven uranium reserves;

• The presence of a developed uranium mining and uranium processing industry;

• The presence of atomic science;

• Availability of personnel potential of highly qualified specialists;

• Significant progress in the development and implementation of nuclear technologies for the production of medical radiopharmaceuticals.

According to the results of the work carried out in 2014, the East Kazakhstan region and the Almaty region were identified as promising areas for the placement of nuclear power plants, taking into account natural and climatic factors, transport infrastructure, anthropogenic factors, and minimal environmental impact.

Currently, the following technologies of the world's leading reactor manufacturers are being studied:

• Rosatom (Russian Federation) with the VVER-1200 reactor project;

• Electricite de France Group /Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (France, Japan) with the ATMEA1 reactor project;

• NuScale Power (USA) with the NuScale low-power modular reactor project;

• GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (USA, Japan) with the project of a modular low-power reactor BWRX-300;

• China National Nuclear Corporation (China) with the HPR-1000 reactor project

• Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (South Korea) with the APR-1400 project.

FIG.1. State management structure

Kazakhstan has a well-developed state management structure for the nuclear industry. The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, represented by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan (ME RK), is responsible for the implementation of the state policy in the field of nuclear energy use.

The functions of the nuclear regulator are currently assigned to the ME RK. The Committee of Atomic and Energy Supervision and Control of the ME RK carries out regulatory control and implementation of functions in the field of nuclear energy use. The Department of Atomic Energy and Industry, which is also part of the ME RK, is also responsible for promoting nuclear energy. RSE "National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan", RSE "Institute of Nuclear Physics" and LLP "MAEC-Kazatomprom" are subordinate organizations of the ME RK.

Regulatory functions in the field of nuclear energy use in the Republic of Kazakhstan are also carried out by the Committee for Environmental Regulation and Control of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources, which performs the functions of environmental protection; the Committee of Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the sphere of sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population; the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan carrying out permit functions and facilities security; Industrial Development Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which performs control and supervision in the field of industrial safety; Ministry of Emergency Situations performing the functions for liquidation of man-caused accidents.

The State regulation authorities are independent from each other, as well as from organizations whose activities are related to the use of atomic energy.

Table 5. STATUS AND PERFORMANCE OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

The BN-350 reactor is the world's first experimental-industrial fast neutron reactor with a sodium coolant. It refers to loop-type reactors with a three-circuit heat sink scheme (sodium-sodium-water). The reactor is designed to supply electricity and heat, as well as desalination of salt water.

The physical start-up of the reactor was carried out on 29 November 1972. It has been in operation since 1973 for 25 years. The design thermal power of the reactor is 1000 MW, and the electric power is 350 MW. The fuel is uranium dioxide.

Taking into account the financial, economic and technical problems associated with the further operation of the BN-350 reactor, taking into account the recommendations of the OSART mission and non-proliferation issues, on 22 April 1999, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan decided on the final shutdown and decommissioning with the concept of transferring the BN-350 reactor to the SAFESTOR status, in which the reactor should be brought to a state of safe storage for a period of 50 years, followed by dismantling and disposal. Currently, work is underway to decommission the reactor.

Decommissioning of such large nuclear facilities as the BN-350 reactor is a technically complex and very time-consuming task that requires large financial investments, as well as special organizational measures, taking into account the established requirements of nuclear and radiation safety.

Significant work has been done to bring the reactor into a safe storage state:

• Radioactive non-nuclear materials and sources of ionizing radiation are loaded into reinforced concrete packages and placed for dry storage at the site of a temporary spent nuclear fuel storage facility;

• Spent nuclear fuel was transported to the long-term storage site "Baikal-1" on the territory of the former Semipalatinsk test site;

• The work on stabilization, unloading, packaging of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and preparation of infrastructure for transportation and storage has been completed. In 2010, the transportation and placement of SNF on the territory of the former Semipalatinsk test site was completed;

• The radioactive sodium coolant of the primary circuit was purified from cesium radionuclides to reduce the environmental load and dose loads on personnel during subsequent sodium processing, and it was drained into storage tanks and is in a frozen state in the BN-350 reactor building;

• A sodium processing plant has been built to produce 70% alkali for processing primary-circuit sodium into a state suitable for subsequent long-term storage on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

• The systems of power supply, ventilation, dosimetric control, fire extinguishing, physical protection, etc. have been modernized.

Currently, work is being carried out at the facility aimed at maintaining the required level of reliability of nuclear, radiation, and industrial safety systems, protective and localization systems, as well as labor protection.

To date, the radioactive sodium of the first circuit has not been processed. To complete the processing, it is necessary to conduct a study of technologies for extracting the sodium-potassium alloy from cold-filter traps and removing (washing) the remains of the sodium-potassium alloy.

Work is being carried out to reduce the volume of LRW by evaporation, which are stored in a storage facility for liquid radioactive waste. It is necessary to carry out conditioning (transfer from liquid to solid state) LW and safely store the resulting waste in the form of solid phases.

Solid radioactive waste (SRW) generated on the territory of BN-350 during operation and maintenance is stored in the TRO storage facility. During the operation of the BN-350 RU, no processing of TRO was carried out.

A feasibility study is being developed for the decommissioning of the BN-350 reactor in order to select a technology for handling sodium radioactive coolant, liquid and solid radioactive waste, as well as bringing buildings and structures into a safe state of long-term storage. [6]

The scientific and technical sphere of the nuclear industry is concentrated in such specialized scientific and technical organizations as the RSE National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the RSE Institute of Nuclear Physics, JSC NAC Kazatomprom (Institute of High Technologies) and the Scientific and Technical Center Safety of Nuclear Technologies. These organizations are the basis for the effective development and implementation of modern nuclear physics technologies in the energy sector, industry, medicine, and agriculture and provide research in the field of development and safety of nuclear energy.

There are three unique research reactor complexes in Kazakhstan, created in the 1960s and 1970s.for conducting fundamental scientific research in the field of nuclear physics, solid-state radiation physics, reactor materials science and as a specialized base for full-scale reactor tests of fuel elements and assemblies, core modules, ground-based testing of design elements of space nuclear reactors, prototypes of nuclear rocket engines and nuclear rocket engines themselves.

Two of them — complexes of research reactors Baikal-1 and IGR — are located at the former Semipalatinsk test site (RSE National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan), and the third complex of the research reactor WWR-K is located in the village of Alatau in Almaty (RSE Institute of Nuclear Physics).

RSE Institute of Nuclear Physics (INP) conducts the following studies:

• Radiation materials science, the study of the interaction of building materials with the coolant; a study of the emission formed by the fission of the fuel rods, its sedimentation and filtration in various conditions;

• Safety of nuclear power plants; testing of fuel assemblies and rods in transient and emergency operating modes; modeling of melting of fragments of the reactor core and interaction of molten material with the coolant;

• Development and implementation of methods and technologies of nuclear physics; production of isotopes for various applications, for example, thallium-201 chloride for early diagnosis of heart diseases.

The WWR-K research reactor is the only stationary multi-purpose reactor in the Republic of Kazakhstan. On the basis of this reactor, research has been conducted for many years to support the development of fourth-generation reactors. In particular, radiation tests and studies of fuel and materials of a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor are carried out. The work is carried out in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Agency of Japan.

RSE National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NNC)

Since the mid-nineties, the NNC has been conducting research to verify the safety of nuclear energy, in particular, related to a serious accident with core melting that can occur in reactors. The main focus in recent years has been the experimental verification of the concept of controlled movement of corium in an improved fast reactor in order to prevent repeated criticality in the event of a serious accident with core melting.

For carrying out applied scientific research on the problems of reactor physics, nuclear technologies, testing of nuclear fuel and reactor materials in critical thermal conditions, radiation resistance of structural materials, the NNC has a powerful scientific experimental base, which is represented by unique research nuclear installations and stands: IVG.1M, IGR, Tokamak KTM, Angara and EAGLE.

The uniqueness of the experimental base of the NNC and the experience gained as a result of studying the behavior of fuel, structural materials of nuclear reactors when modeling transient and emergency operating modes arouse the interest of specialists from different countries.

The most important scientific and technical problem related to the peaceful development of nuclear energy and aimed at strengthening the non-proliferation regime of nuclear materials worldwide is the reduction of the use of highly enriched uranium in civilian facilities, primarily in research nuclear reactors.

Since 2010, the NNC, together with the Argonne National Laboratory and Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (United States of America), has been implementing a large-scale project to study the possibility of converting NNC research reactors to use low-enriched uranium. In addition to active work directly on conversion, NNC specialists, with the support of the Idaho National Laboratory (United States of America), carry out joint work on the management of HEU fuel located at the sites of research reactors. The work is carried out within the framework of the international program for the return of spent fuel from Russian research reactors (RRFR). After the completion of these conversion works, there will be no research reactors operating on highly enriched uranium in Kazakhstan.

In 1998, the NNC began work on the creation of the Kazakhstan materials science tokamak KTM for conducting applied and fundamental research in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion.

KTM is the world's first tokamak designed to conduct a wide range of materials science research in order to develop and study materials for the working chamber and in-chamber elements of future thermonuclear reactors (including ITER). At the end of 2019, the final stage of physical start-up and commissioning of the tokamak was successfully carried out. Thus, the Republic of Kazakhstan has entered the top 10 countries with advanced research facilities for the promotion of controlled thermonuclear fusion.

The project to create a KTM tokamak is being implemented in close cooperation with interested departments and organizations of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (hereinafter – the CIS).

MEMBERSHIPS IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Kazakhstan became a Member State of the IAEA in 1994.

Kazakhstan is a member of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The legislation, standards and rules of republican nuclear export control correspond to all NSG recommendations. All nuclear export and import applications shall be agreed by the Committee – the license is issued by the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It shall be noted that sale of nuclear or other radioactive materials and radiation sources is to be licensed.

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

Kazakhstan is a party to a whole range of commitments to the international nuclear non-proliferation and verification regime, such as NPT, Bilateral Safeguard Agreement with the IAEA, the Protocol Additional to Safeguards Agreement, and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Please see Appendix 1.

Kazakhstan aims at comprehensive cooperation with leading international enterprises in the implementation of nuclear energy programs and scientific research regarding the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Cooperation is ongoing with the International Scientific Technical Center (ISTC), Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia (FNCA), etc. The active work is under way to ensure nuclear and radiation safety and the training and upgrading of staff qualifications in the field of nuclear energy.

An agreement was signed with ITER, under which NNC research base is being used to test materials and equipment to be used in the construction of ITER facility.

NNC specialists, in cooperation with partners from France, Japan and the Russian Federation, conduct research to support the safety of new projects of fourth-generation power nuclear reactors. The most important works of recent years are studies to substantiate the safety of fast neutron reactors under the EAGLE, SAIGA, BREST-OD-300 projects and studies to substantiate the safety of water-water nuclear reactors under the COTELS, INVECOR, CORMIT and Fukushima Debris projects:

The EAGLE Project (JAEA, Japan) is aimed at finding ways to mitigate the consequences of severe accidents with melting of the core of a fast neutron reactor with a sodium coolant, which is being developed in Japan;

The SAIGA project (CEA, France) is aimed at studying the behavior of the ASTRID reactor fuel assembly in an accident with a loss of coolant flow. ASTRID is a fast neutron reactor with a sodium coolant currently being developed in France.

The BREST-OD-300 project (NIKIET, Russian Federation) is aimed at testing the fuel of the newest fast neutron experimental demonstration reactor BREST-300, which is being developed as part of the Russian Breakthrough program, at the experimental base of the NNC.

The COTELS project (NUPEC, Marubeni Utility Services, Ltd, Japan) is aimed at an experimental study of the processes that are characteristic of the final stage of a water-cooled reactor accident associated with the loss of a coolant (LOCA type accident); in particular, the processes associated with the interaction of the corium melt with water and concrete and the interaction of corium with the bottom of the power reactor vessel when simulating residual heat release in the fuel.

The INVECOR project (ISTC, EU, RF) is aimed at studying the physical processes occurring during the retention of the prototype corium melt in the model of the power reactor vessel under conditions of residual heat release in corium.

The CORMIT project (Toshiba, Marubeni Utility Services, Ltd., Japan) is aimed at studying heat-resistant coating materials, a specially developed core melt trap used in a severe accident with loss of coolant.

The results obtained during the research allow us to make a reasonable choice of an effective heat-resistant material covering the designed sub-reactor melt traps designed to improve the safety of Japanese nuclear power plants in the event of a severe accident with the melting of the reactor core.

The project "Fukushima Debris" (Marubeni Utility Services, Ltd, Japan) is aimed at modeling and subsequent study of the properties of solidified melt fragments of the reactor core of the Fukushima Daiichi-1 nuclear power plant. Data on the structure and physico-mechanical properties of the resulting corium prototype are necessary for the development of a procedure for extracting material from Fukushima Daiichi emergency reactors and selecting suitable tools.

United States of America conversion organizations are participating in a project to convert NNC research reactors to low-enriched fuel as part of international nonproliferation initiatives. The goal of the project is to reduce the fuel enrichment of NNC research reactors to below 20% in accordance with IAEA requirements.

As part of intergovernmental agreement on controlled thermonuclear fusion with EURATOM, the Memorandums of Cooperation are signed with the leading scientific centers in Europe: ENEA (Italy) and CIEMAT (Spain). The agreements on scientific and technical cooperation are successfully implemented with Russian organizations (National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" (Moscow)), Ioffe Institute of Physics and Technology (Saint Petersburg), as well as with "SOSNY" State Scientific Institution of the Academy of Sciences (Republic of Belarus).

There is an agreement on joint use of Tokamak KTM for six countries of the Council of Heads of Government of CIS: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation and Tajikistan. Within the framework of the agreement, each country is carrying out a certain amount of work to promote controlled thermonuclear fusion technologies.

The Committee for Atomic and Energy Supervision and Control (CAESC) of the ME RK is the regulatory authority. CAESC ME RK (former Committee for Atomic Energy of the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the RK), is the competent authority carrying out regulatory supervision and realization functions in the field of atomic energy use within the competence of the ME RK.

According to the provisions on the CAESC ME RK the main tasks of the Committee under the authority of the Ministry are:

• implements the state policy in the field of electric energy and atomic energy use;

• carries out the regulatory, realization and control-supervision functions and participates in the implementation of the strategic functions of the central executive body within its competence;

• approves legal acts on the matters within its competence and it has direct competence for their approvals in the Ministries’ acts, with the exception of the normative legal acts concerning human and civil rights and freedoms;

• exercises control and supervision of the activities of individuals and legal entities within its competence;

• carries out control and supervisory functions over the activities of local executive bodies on the matters relating to the responsibilities of Committee;

• implements international cooperation within its competence;

• performs a permissive control;

• conducts inspections related to the execution of its responsibilities in the field of atomic energy;

• realizes state control in the field of atomic energy use;

• monitors compliance with the norms and rules of radiation safety and license conditions;

• carries out the state control in the field of radiation safety of the population;

• exercises control over the export, import, movement, transit and placement of nuclear materials and other ionizing radiation sources;

• exercises control over exports in the field of atomic energy use;

• performs state accounting and control of nuclear materials;

• performs state accounting and control of ionizing radiation sources;

• coordinates the issuance of a license from the authorized state body exercising state regulation in the field of export control for the export and import of nuclear and special non-nuclear materials, equipment, installations, technologies, ionizing radiation sources, equipment and related dual-use (purpose) goods and technologies, works, services related to their production;

• carries out licensing in the field of atomic energy use and permit control in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan about the permissions and notifications;

• makes a decision on state registration or removal from state registration of nuclear materials and ionizing radiation sources;

• agrees on calculation methods related to ensuring nuclear, radiation and nuclear physical safety and security presented by an expert organization;

• approves the designs of transport packaging sets and also extends the validity of their certificates-permits, approved by the authorized bodies of other countries, on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

• organizes research on nuclear, radiation and nuclear physical safety and security, ensuring the nuclear non-proliferation regime and monitoring of nuclear tests;

• develops and approves methodological recommendations for individuals and legal entities carrying out activities in the field of atomic energy use, regarding methods and options of confirming the compliance of a facility involved in atomic energy use with the requirements of nuclear, radiation, nuclear physical safety and security established by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of atomic energy use;

• sets the values of the threshold activity for various radioisotopes;

• analyzes and verifies the information received on the presence, location and movement of ionizing radiation sources and enters it into the register of ionizing radiation sources;

• carries out certification of personnel employed at nuclear facilities;

• conducts accreditation of organizations carrying out expertise of nuclear, radiation and nuclear physical safety and security;

• maintains a register of accredited organizations carrying out expertise of nuclear, radiation and nuclear physical safety and security;

• develops, coordinates and approves, within its competence, normative technical acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan, instructions, guidelines in the field of electric power industry and the atomic energy use;

• participates, within the competence, in the development and implementation of strategic and program documents and proposals for the Strategic and Operational Plans of the ME RK;

• exercises other rights provided by the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan and acts of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

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

• Application for the licence;

• Analysis of application materials;

• Inspection at the nuclear installation;

• Conclusion on application materials examination;

• Conclusion on nuclear installation inspection;

• General conclusion on obtaining licence;

• Licence.