Kazakhstan selects site for its first Nuclear Power Plant
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The government of Kazakhstan has officially confirmed the construction site for the country’s first nuclear power plant (NPP), Kazinform News Agency reports.
According to the decree, the facility will be located in the Zhambyl district of the Almaty region.
To decide on the construction site of the nuclear facility "Nuclear Power Plant" - Zhambyl district of the Almaty region," it states.
Zhambyl district, located in southwestern Kazakhstan, has a population of 137,129 and its administrative center in Uzynagash.
Earlier, Kazinform reported that four companies, including CNNC (China), ICHNP (South Korea), Rosatom (Russia), and EDF (France), have been shortlisted as potential technology suppliers for the construction of Kazakhstan’s nuclear power plant.
Kazakhstan held a nationwide referendum on the NPP project on October 6 last year. The majority of voters, totaling 71.12% (5,561,937 people), supported the construction, while 26.13% (2,045,271 people) opposed it. Voter turnout reached 63.66%, with a total of 7,820,204 participants.
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President Tokayev gives instructions after 5.0M earthquake hit Zhambyl region
Images | Akorda
Governor Yerbol Karashukeyev and Emergency Situations Minister Chingiz Arinov delivered reports to Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev following a 5.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked Zhambyl region early today, Kazinform News Agency reports.
The country’s Premier Olzhas Bektenov was tasked to ensure assistance is provided to restore and repair the social facilities and residential buildings affected by the earthquake in Zhambyl region.
Kazakhstan set up a governmental working group led by the emergency situations vice minister in order to assist Zhambyl region’s local executive bodies in analyzing the circumstances, taking urgent measures as well as assessing the damage.
Earlier it was reported that a 5.0-magnitude earthquake jolted Kazakhstan.
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Population declining in Kazakhstan’s north and east, Labor Ministry
The northern, central and eastern regions of Kazakhstan are facing depopulation, Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection Olzhas Anafin said, Kazinform News Agency reports.
Addressing the meeting of the Senate’s sociocultural development and science committee, Olzhas Anafin said the Ministry prepares population projections every year. In his words, the country’s current population is predicted to increase further. The population of Kazakhstan is projected to reach 27.5 million people by 2050, with its growth varying by region. The highest population surge will be recorded in the megacities through in-migration. Noteworthy, the population in megacities rose 127,000 people in 2024 thanks to urban migration. At the same time, the northern, central and eastern regions are facing depopulation due to population movement and migration.
He said low birth is common in the northern regions of Kazakhstan, with 9.7 births per 1,000 population in North Kazakhstan and 11 births per 1,000 population in Kostanay region against the average of 18.1 births per 1,000 total population throughout Kazakhstan in 2024. The northern regions also report high mortality rates of 11.5 deaths per 1,000 individuals and 10 per 1,000 in Kostanay region against the average of 6.6 deaths per 1,000 population across the country.
Besides, these regions have the highest average age of population of 37 years in North Kazakhstan and 39 years in central and eastern regions against the average age standing at 32 years countrywide.
He stressed that the positive balance in 2024 was seen only in Almaty and Mangistau regions as well as the cities of Astana, Almaty and Shymkent.
He mentioned that the population keeps on leaving the northern regions. The aggregate negative balance in North Kazakhstan was 51,000 and 52,000 in Kostanay region. The share of people of above active working age in the northern regions made 17% in 2024 against 11% the countrywide. It is projected to grow up to 22% in the northern regions by 2050 and up to 14% throughout Kazakhstan.
It is worth noting, according to the National Statistics Bureau estimates, the rural population’s migration balance (arrived minus those who left) in Kazakhstan made 111,400 people in 2024 for the first time since 2000, in other words since records began.
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Olzhas Bektenov gets acquainted with progress of President's instructions on industry development in Pavlodar region
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Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov during his working trip to Pavlodar region on the example of KAZ Minerals Bozshakol LLP and Kazakhstan Carriage Building Company LLP familiarised himself with the progress of implementation of the Head of State's instructions on the development of industry, provision of support measures for domestic manufacturers and introduction of digital solutions, primeminister.kz reports.
At the site of open-type copper mine Bozshakol Prime Minister familiarised himself with the technological process. Annually 30 million tonnes of ore is processed at the enterprise. Last year 105 thousand tonnes of copper were produced, gold, silver and zinc in concentrate are also produced here. Finished products are exported to China, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Belgium. Special attention is paid to the training of young specialists within the framework of The Year of Vocational Professions initiated by the President. This year the company plans to attract more than 200 students for paid internships. In total, the company has created more than 14,000 jobs to date.
The Prime Minister was informed about the work being done to introduce modern technologies, including the development of artificial intelligence systems at the production sites. Full dispatching covers all stages from ore crushing to concentrate production. Production process modelling systems and drones for 3D modelling of open pits are being used, which significantly improves the accuracy and efficiency of operations.
We need to go into processing, higher redistribution - the President has set such a task. The Tax Code provides for preferences: those who produce products of higher processing will pay less taxes. Everything is being done to stimulate the processing industry. This means that very different money will remain in the country. Many countries are now developing processing on Kazakhstan's raw materials. We need to do it ourselves. Especially large enterprises, such as Kazakhmys Group, KAZ Minerals, have the opportunity to invest," Olzhas Bektenov emphasised.
In Ekibastuz on the territory of Kazakhstan Wagon Building Company LLP the Prime Minister got acquainted with the current production capacities of the domestic manufacturer of universal freight gondola cars, boxcars, flat cars, as well as plans for further increase of indicators taking into account the annual growth of freight traffic volumes.
General Director of SMP Group LLP Yerzhan Kuangan said that since its foundation the company has produced more than 9 thousand gondola cars, 26 platforms and 2 boxcars. The production capacity has increased from 100 to 240 wagons per month. Today the company fulfils the contract for the supply of 3 thousand gondola cars ahead of schedule, the completion of which is scheduled for May 2025. Attention was paid to the issues of interaction within the framework of implementation of the Concept of Transport and Logistics Complex Development.
Our country has a huge and not fully unlocked potential in transit and logistics. The railway system requires renewal of wagons. Therefore, we support the plans of the enterprise to increase production," Prime Minister stressed and instructed the Ministry of Transport together with interested organisations to work out measures to support the enterprise, including the possibility of concluding long-term offteik contracts for the supply of gondola cars and boxcars.
At the same time, the management of the enterprise needs to increase the share of local content as countermeasures, today it is 57 per cent.
The most important thing is to increase localisation. You should further stimulate domestic production," Olzhas Bektenov noted.
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Foreign workers in Kazakhstan: current statistics and employment sectors
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According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as of March 1, 2025, 13,584 foreign citizens are officially employed in Kazakhstan. Most of them are employed in construction, industry, and agriculture, Kazinform News Agency reports.
According to the data, out of the 13,584 foreign citizens, 569 individuals fall into the first category, holding managerial positions. "2,514 permits for heads of structural divisions (second category). The bulk of the attracted foreign labor force belongs to the third (specialists) and fourth (skilled workers) categories-4,711 and 1,010 people, respectively. Also, 1,217 people are attracted for seasonal work, and 3,563 people are part of a corporate transfer," the ministry reports.
A total of 1,744 employers in Kazakhstan use foreign labor, but 96.5% of employees at these enterprises are citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The main countries from which labor migrants arrive are China (4,945 people), India (1,169), Türkiye (1,165), and Uzbekistan (1,056).
By type of economic activity, the largest number works in the following areas: construction-5,052 people, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries-1,296 people, manufacturing-1,281 people, mining and quarrying-1,263 people, and administrative and support services-975 people," the report says.
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Kazakhstan completes talks with S. Korea’s KHNP over possible nuclear technology supply
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On Wednesday, a meeting took place with the South Korean company KHNP (Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power), as part of competitive dialogue to pick a potential supplier of nuclear technology for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant, Kazinform News Agency reports.
According to the country’s Nuclear Energy Agency, the parties discussed prospects for cooperation in nuclear energy, personnel training, localization and implementation of joint projects.
Noting KHNP’s experience in projecting, constructing and operating modern reactors, the Agency’s Chairman Almassadam Satkaliyev highlighted the importance of open and competitive dialogue with international partners.
In turn, KHNP CEO Whang Joo-ho expressed the interest in expanding cooperation and offered South Korea’s experience to carry out projects in Kazakhstan.
The meeting marked the final stage of the country's negotiations with the potential suppliers of nuclear technology for construction of a nuclear power plant.
A decision is yet to be made by the government commission, said the Agency’s press service.
Earlier it was reported that Kazakhstan had established a Nuclear Energy Agency.
Kazakhstan held a nationwide referendum on the NPP project on October 6 last year. The majority of voters, totaling 71.12% (5,561,937 people), supported the construction, while 26.13% (2,045,271 people) opposed it. Voter turnout reached 63.66%, with a total of 7,820,204 participants.
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President Tokayev meets with Chinese diplomat Liu Jianchao
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Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Wednesday received head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party Liu Jianchao, Kazinform News Agency cites the press service of Akorda.
During the meeting, President Tokayev said that the ‘Kazakh-Chinese eternal comprehensive strategic partnership is progressing positively and future-orientated’.
The Head of State expressed confidence that the upcoming visit of China’s Chairman Xi Jinping for the second CA-China summit in Astana in June this year will open up new horizons of strategic partnership.
President Tokayev reiterated his support for his Chinese counterpart’s global initiatives aimed at building a just world order based on the principles of international law and the UN Charter. The Kazakh leader confirmed Kazakhstan’s continued commitment to the ‘one China’ policy.
In turn, Liu Jianchao highlighted that China regards Kazakhstan as a strategically important partner and attaches priority importance to deepening Kazakh-Chinese eternal comprehensive partnership.
The interlocutors also discussed ways to enhance cooperation in trade-economic, investment as well as cultural and humanitarian fields.
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