Kazakhstan has chosen the Chinese. They will build two nuclear power plants for Kazakhstan.

The nuclear power plant there is planned to be operational in 2035-2036. The facility is expected to produce 2.4 GW of electricity. The reactors are Russian VVER-1200 generation 3+ reactors. The Russians will likely finance the investment, but it is unclear whether it will cover the entire project or just the equipment and technology. Financing as part of a turnkey construction package is Rosatom's most frequently used strategy, which allows it to win tenders in countries experiencing financial difficulties. In return, it manages and controls electricity production and prices in a given country for 20-25 years. This is how Russians operate in Iran, Belarus, Turkey, and Hungary. However, Rosatom itself is now short of funds and has requested support from the Kremlin.

The Kazakh project is particularly challenging. The infrastructure around the lake is poor, with a lack of roads, the terrain is semi-arid or desert, and the climate is lethal – scorching summers and freezing winters. All of this requires significant investment, including from Kazakhstan. The Chinese will build the next two power plants.

Kazakhstan, despite being the world's largest uranium producer, does not yet operate its own nuclear power plants and does not consume products of the nuclear cycle. Kazakhstan's uranium resources constitute approximately 15% of the world's total, second only to those in Australia.

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