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A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has completed a safety review of Kazakhstan’s process for deciding on the country’s planned nuclear power plant.
The Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan has proposed the reintroduction of nuclear power to diversify Kazakhstan’s combined forces while reducing CO2 emissions. Kazakhstan, with a population of about 19. 5 million, is looking at its dependence on fossil fuels.
In May 2022, Kazakhstan chose the domain near the village of Ulken as the region to build the country’s first nuclear power plant, with Kurchatov as the backup region, since the closure of the BN-350 fast neutron reactor in Aktau in 1999. Kazakhstan has asked the IAEA to conduct an External Event Review and Site Design (SEED) project to assess the decision-making procedure for the site. The SEED project took place from 2 to 6 October 2023.
SEED missions are qualified review missions that assist IAEA member States through the progression stages of a nuclear force programme, conducted at the request of a country. The service offers a selection of modules on which to concentrate the review, such as site variety, site assessment and design of structures, systems and components, taking into account site-specific external and internal risks. In the case of site variety review, SEED missions do not evaluate the actual site selected, but do assess the appropriate protection attention. Problems in the process of site variety.
The five-day SEED project was carried out at the request of the Government of Kazakhstan and organized through the Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP). Kazakhstan hosted an Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review Mission (INIR) in March 2023, which assessed the state of the national infrastructure. for the advent of nuclear power.
The objective of the SEED revision project is to assist Kazakhstan in finalizing its Pre-Feasibility Study (PFR) report, based on applicable IAEA protection standards. The review focused on the quality of knowledge contained in the site’s variety report and knowledge collection. methods, the adequacy of the site variety process, and threat modeling, with reference to the structure of two sets in a decided site.
The project team included experts from Turkey and the United Kingdom, as well as two IAEA officials. They reviewed the PFR and conducted interviews with representatives of the relevant technical agencies. The team also visited the proposed sites in Ulken and meteorological and seismic monitoring. stations in the vicinity of the site.
“The participation of all governments and national organizations, the regulator and the relevant ministries is welcome,” said Paolo Contri, team leader for the review and head of the external event protection segment at the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. “This was noticed through the team as the best guarantor of the project’s good luck with a focus on protecting workers, the public and the environment. “
Based on the available knowledge, an on-site visit and discussions with the KNPP mission, the IAEA team found no definitive evidence of protection-related problems related to the exclusion criteria (typically failability, ground collapse, feasibility of contingency plans). , etc. ). This would possibly recommend the inadequacy of the proposed regions and the sites within them (in the Ulken and Kurchatov regions, respectively). The team recommended that KNPP undertake a limited crusade of further knowledge gathering to minimize the generic threat that potential protection issues may also arise at a later stage.
“The resolution to embark on the progress of nuclear energy is a momentous resolution and underscores our country’s commitment to diversify our energy resources while respecting the highest standards of environmental protection and responsibility,” said Gumar Sergazin, director of the Department of Atomic Energy. and industry. ” I am confident that the effects of this SEED will not only contribute to the protection and sustainability of our nuclear energy program, but will also further strengthen the bonds of cooperation and acceptance among all stakeholders involved. “.
The final report of the project will be submitted to the Government of Kazakhstan within three months.