NPP construction in Kazakhstan: what issues will be discussed at the hearings?

NPP construction in Kazakhstan: what issues will be discussed at the hearings?

ASTANA, August 21 - Sputnik. The Ministry of Energy told what issues will be raised at public discussions in the village of Ulken, Almaty region.

On August 22, in the village of Ulken, Zhambyl district, Almaty region, public discussions will be held on the construction of a nuclear power plant.

"At the hearings, it is planned to discuss issues of ecology, health, the impact of natural and climatic factors on nuclear power plants, economic factors, infrastructure development, the impact of nuclear power plants on the development of small and medium-sized businesses, as well as other topical issues," the Ministry of Energy reports.

The hearings will be attended by: the local population, the media, the public council of the Almaty region, the Ministry of Energy, the akimat of the Almaty region, the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants LLP, the Scientific and Technical Center for the Safety of Nuclear Technologies, the Nuclear Society of Kazakhstan , as well as industry experts in the fields of ecology, seismic, security, energy, infrastructure, small and medium businesses and others.

During the hearings, residents will be able to ask any questions they are interested in, both on the safety of technologies and on the socio-economic aspects of the NPP construction.

The Ministry of Energy noted that these public discussions are not public hearings held in accordance with the Environmental Code. Public hearings will be held later in the environmental assessment stages of the project after the development of project documentation.

It should be reminded that according to the results of studies by Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants LLP, the territory of the village of Ulken, Zhambyl district, Almaty region, was recommended as the most preferable area for the construction of a nuclear power plant.

The research results were reviewed and approved at a meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Development of the Nuclear Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan in May 2022.