Can Kazakhstan capitalise on its assets?

The Republic of Kazakhstan has a nuclear scientific-industrial complex which was set up as part of the nuclear infrastructure of the USSR. More than 50% of the uranium resources of the former Soviet Union are in Kazakhstan where there are seven uranium mines. Two plants for UO2 production have a capacity of up to 35% of the total uranium production in the USSR in 1990. There are extensive facilities for producing UO2 pellets for VVER fuel elements from Russian enriched uranium. The Republic has several research reactors and one operating nuclear power plant, the BN-350 fast reactor which started up in 1973 with a design life of 20 years. Work on life extension for this reactor has the intention of bringing it into compliance with current safety standards by 1997 and to continue operation up to 2003. Proponents of nuclear power within the planned expansion of electricity generation see two broad phases for the nuclear industry. Up to 2005 the priorities identified are: conserving the present intellectual and industrial potential with support being given to existing fuel cycle facilities and research; replacing BN-350 by BNM-170 modular fast reactors; setting up a training centre. Beyond 2005 to 2015, a power station with medium sized reactors, possibly of the VVER-640 design, is envisaged. Current economic problems rule out the prospect of plant construction in the near future, however. In the long-term, complete self-reliance in the production of fuel and materials for the nuclear programme is a possibility but continued collaboration with Russia is the present most cost-effective option. (UK)