Nuclear Power in Central Asia: The New “New Thing”?

The Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kirgistan and Uzbekistan explore the development of nuclear energy.

Last fall, Kazakhstan underwent a controversial referendum for the construction of a nuclear power plant. 2024 both Kirgistan and Uzbekistan signed a memorandum of understanding with Rosatom to build smaller plants. Despite ordinary hydrocarbons and hydroelectric resources, the Central Asian states continue to experience regular shortages of strength.

How could nuclear energy factor in long -term energy strategy in Central Asia? How to look at these markets Rosat? And how do local and international policy affect those decisions?

On January 28, the National Interest Center hosted the eighth in a monthly series of expert discussions organized by the Center Central Asia Connection Project.

–Elvira Aidarkhanova is a scientific associate at the National Interest Center. She contributed to various research initiatives in international relations and performed communication roles in the private and public sector of Kazakhstan, as well as in research tanks in the United States. He has a master of art in human sciences and MBA, and is currently a PhD in international relations.

–Cloth is an academic dean and professor of Central Asian studies at the Center for Strategic Studies in Middle Eastern Asia, the Regional Center of the US Ministry of Defense. Previously, Dr. Kangas served as a professor of Central Asia Study at the European Security Center George C. Marshall in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany; Deputy Director of Central Asia Institute at Johns Hopkins University of Advanced International Studies; Central Asian Course Coordinator at the Institute for Foreign Services of the Ministry of Civil Service; Analyst of research on Central Asian Affairs of the Institute for Open Media Research in Prague, Czech Republic; And as an assistant professor for political science at the University of Mississippi.

–Paul J. Saunders He is the president of the Center for National Interest and a member of his Board of Directors. He is also a senior advisor to the Energy Innovation Reform Reform, where he was president from 2019 to 2024. Saunders previously served in Bush’s administration from 2003 to 2005 as a senior counselor of State Secretary for Global Issues. His the latest project is an assessment of the Russian evolutionary role in the global energy system.

Andrew KuchinsAn older associate at the National Interest Center moderated the discussion.

Picture: Nuclear power plant Rostov to Volgodon, Russia (Alex Malev, Wikimedia Commons).