Kazakhstan has designated the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a state-owned enterprise operating under economic management rights, as its national operator for radioactive waste management. The press service of the Atomic Energy Agency announced the decision, according to infohub.kz.
The agency said the move is intended to develop a national system for the safe management of radioactive waste.
"Radioactive waste in Kazakhstan has accumulated as a result of past activities, including nuclear testing and uranium mining and processing. It is also currently generated during the operation of nuclear facilities, the activities of uranium mining and processing enterprises, and in industry, medicine and science. In the future, it will also be generated during the operation of future nuclear power plants. The national operator will carry out work on the safe management of radioactive waste. One of the key areas of its activity will be the creation and operation of infrastructure for radioactive waste disposal, as well as the closure of relevant facilities and their subsequent monitoring," the statement said.
The operator will also carry out work to decommission and mothball nuclear legacy facilities that are in state ownership or are subject to transfer to the state. Its tasks will also include remediating the consequences of uranium mining and processing.
Earlier, President of Kazakhstan Qasym-Jomart Toqaev, in his address to the nation, spoke about the construction of a nuclear power plant in the country. And Energy Minister Erlan Akkenzhenov said a Chinese company could build a second nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan.