Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:12pm on 28 May 2026,Thursday International
Russia and Kazakhstan signed a landmark agreement to build the Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant, marking Kazakhstan’s first nuclear energy project and a major expansion of Moscow’s regional influence. The deal was signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Astana for talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Russia will reportedly finance nearly 85% of the project’s estimated $15 billion cost through export credit support. The plant, featuring two reactors, will be constructed near Ulken on Lake Balkhash in southeastern Kazakhstan. Despite being the world’s largest uranium producer, Kazakhstan avoided nuclear energy for decades due to Soviet-era testing trauma. A 2024 referendum backed nuclear expansion as Kazakhstan targets 2.4 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2035. (PC: AP)
