Kazakhstan has proposed naming its third nuclear power plant "Bolashaq." The initiative was put forward at the National Youth Dialogue "Nuclear Dialogue on Equal Terms: The Path of Youth into the Nuclear Industry" in Astana, according to infohub.kz.
The proposal was announced by Shyngys Ilyasov, an official representative of the Nuclear Energy Agency, Forbes Kazakhstan reports.
According to forum participants, the name "Bolashaq," which translates as "Future," should symbolize the development of nuclear energy, science and technology, as well as the role of the new generation of specialists in shaping the industry.
No official decision has yet been made on assigning this name to the third nuclear plant.
The forum itself was held at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. It was attended by Almasadam Satkaliyev, head of the Nuclear Energy Agency, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek, students, young professionals and representatives of the nuclear industry.
Earlier, the name "Balqash" was chosen for Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant. Kursiv reported that Kazakhstan and Rosatom signed an EPC contract for its construction near the village of Ulken in the Almaty Region. The station will consist of two VVER-1200 power units with a combined capacity of 2.4 GW, and main construction work is planned to begin in 2027.
Some 818.3 billion tenge is planned to be allocated from the national budget for the construction of the first nuclear plant in 2027-2029. The total cost of the project was earlier estimated at $16.4 billion.
In addition, the second nuclear plant, with the working name "Moiynkum," is also planned to be located in the Balqash area. China's CNNC is being considered as the priority partner for this project.