“Nuclear Plant Will Be Built” in Western Region, Says Kazakh Premier

Excerpt from report by Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency

Aktau, 21 November: During his working visit to a western region, the Kazakh prime minister, Karim Masimov, instructed the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to draft a government resolution on building a nuclear power plant (NPP) in western Mangistau Region.

“I make a decision and order the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to submit a draft resolution on building the nuclear power plant in Mangistau Region to the prime minister’s office within one week,” Masimov said during a session of the interdepartmental commission on speeding up the implementation of the project on building the nuclear power plant, held in Aktau today.

“We are closing this matter. The nuclear power plant will be built,” the prime minister stressed.

At the same time, the head of government said that he is not yet ready to answer if the nuclear power plant will be built jointly with Russia.

“I think we should work on this issue, first of all, Kazatomprom [national nuclear company] should work on this and submit a proposal,” said the prime minister.

Masimov said that the issue of financing the project should also be solved, after learning all existing opportunities.

“The issue of power supply is of fundamental importance, we will not be able to develop the region and industry without solving this issue,” said the prime minister.

[Passage omitted: Background information on the project]

Originally published by Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency, Almaty, in Russian 1521 21 Nov 07.

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