News

29-08-2007 08:39

Kazakhstan has Large Potential for Peaceful Nuclear Energy Development

Kazakhstan has a large potential for development of peaceful nuclear energy, according to Sauat Mynbaev, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.

"Kazatomprom" has recently acquired 10% of the shares in Westinghouse. It is a very significant event for us which means, that Kazakhstan has a large potential for development of peaceful nuclear energy, and the company is becoming one of the most important players in the world's economic space ", Mynbaev said at the international symposium "Kazakhstan's Way to a Nuclear-Free World" in Astana on Wednesday.

"Besides, our country owns about 21% of the world's natural uranium reserves," he added.

He also said that Kazakhstan has unique experimental capability, qualified scientists and engineers to carry out research work in the area of applied and fundamental nuclear physics.

"One of Kazakhstan's leading organizations in this area is the National Nuclear Center. It still operates three research reactors used for unique experiments for nuclear energy safety within the republican and international programs and also develops nuclear and radiation technologies," he said.

Mynbaev also said that implementation of a socially-significant project - Center of Nuclear Medicine and Biophysics - is being initiated on the basis of the Almaty Institute of Nuclear Physics. "The new center will become a base research and production complex, deal with the problems of commercial production of medical radioactive isotopes, develop and test prospective radiopharmaceuticals, up-to-date diagnostic techniques and treatment methods," - he said.

Besides, the Minister reminded, a Nuclear Technology Park is being created in Kurchatov in order to maintain and develop the so-called "nuclear competence" of Kazakhstan, to develop new high nuclear technologies, design and operate state-of-the-art nuclear power units.