Today, Kazakhstan is ranked the first in the world on uranium mining and the second in terms of uranium reserves, possessing 19 % of the world’s known reserves of the uranium. And about 65 % of uranium resources are suitable for the most progressive, ecologically safe and economically expedient methods of in-situ leaching (underground leaching). Within a relatively short period of time Kazakhstan managed to increase the sphere of atomic power engineering to a high level of development. Furthermore, Kazakhstan possesses a developed uranium mining and processing industry with infrastructure for holding fundamental and applied research in the sphere of atomic physics. As it is known, the Republic inherited the Soviet nuclear facilitiesthus possessing unique research assets in the field of atomic physics as well as qualified personnel. Thanks towhich, to date three research reactors has been exploited successfully on scientific purpose.

It is known that there are 129 minefields and mine groupsof uranium in Kazakhstan. The uranium minefields are grouped into six uranium provinces (Balkhash, Caspian, Ily, North-Kazakhstan, Syrdarya, Shu-Sarysu). Most of the uranium recourses available for mining through in-situ leaching (underground leaching) which is cheaper and more environmentally friendly. Also, it should be noted that the national system of atomic and radiation safety enters into International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA)[3].

Consequent transition from exploitation of conventional power engineering (i.e. Thermal Power stations, hydraulic power engineering) to the nuclear energy technology will produce noticeable effect.

1. Development of the Nuclearpower engineering in Kazakhstan will ensure the national energetic safety, the achievement of which in prospect is impossible without diversification of the energy industry. This will substantially abate or fully liquidate dependence from electric energy import that is a big advantage in condition of the possible raw material price-wave and the expected growth of electric energy consumption.
2. Today NPPs (Nuclear Power Plants) areamong the most environmentally friendly energy producers. Nuclear power engineering will allow raising the rates of energy productionwithout disturbing the ecological balance. This will lead to exclusion of the air pollution and to support the accepted international obligations on the solution of global environmental problems.
3. The most important advantage of nuclear power engineering is its tariff’s economic attractiveness and price stability to electric energy during a long run.
4. Development of nuclear power engineeringin Kazakhstan will objectively promote the technological level of national mechanic engineering, scientific-technical potential of the country and new hi-tech fields of the economy.
5. Industrial enterprises willget integrated into the international cooperative agglomerations of equipment producers for NPPs.
6. The export structure will change, namely, the quantity of hi-tech productssuch as electric energy and reactor fuel, and new NPPs in prospect.
7. Guaranty of the energetic resources will promote stable social-economic development of Kazakhstan and its regions. Altogether, nuclear power has considerable perspectives in Kazakhstan and its development essentially increases the potential of all the energetic fields [5].

In comparison with thermal power plants which use fossil fuels, NPPs have the following advantages:

• Small amount of fuel to use and the possibility of its repeated usage after processing: 1 kg natural uranium vs. 20 metric tons of coal. For comparison: only one TrinityThermal Power Station with the output of 2000 MT consumes two consists of coal a day.
• NPPs emit some quantity of ionized gas into atmosphere, however conventional thermal power plants together with fume produces far more radiation outrush due to natural radioelement content in coal.
• One NPP reactor generates high capacity (1000 to 1600 MW per unit).
• Low energy prime cost, especially thermal one.

The disadvantages of NPPs:

• Irradiated fuel is dangerous: it requires complicated and costly way on processing and storage.
• Work regime with changeable power is undesirable for reactors which work on the thermal neutron.
• Despite low probability of incidents, their consequences are extremely disastrous.
• Large investments (specific investments: to 1 MW installed capability for a unit with the power less than 700-800 MW, and general investments necessary for construction of a plant, its infrastructures, as well as in case of possible liquidation.)

Nevertheless, in spite of the disadvantages, nuclear power occur the most perspective. Alternative methods of power generation (tidal, wind, sun, geothermal energyetc), apart from being scattered, produce insufficient capacities. Besides, currently existingmodes of power generation include their own risks for the environment and tourism (“dirty” manufacturing of photovoltaic elements, wind stations’ danger for birds, and change of wave dynamics) [6].

A site for a Nuclear Plant (NP) is chosen by taking into account processes, effects and factors of natural and technical background where it is possible to provide the safety of NP operation. The accepted Environmental Code of Republic of Kazakhstan as of 13/06/2013 (Clause 205),clearly sets forth environmental requirementson Nuclear Power Plants siting. Siting and construction of nuclear power plantrequiresa project proposal and positive conclusion of the governmental environmental and sanitary-epidemiologic expertise. Project proposals of Nuclear power plantsshall contain solutions which provide safe decommissioning, as well as arrangements on nuclear waste disposal.

During siting, design and construction of a nuclear power plant radiation safety shall be arranged in accord with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Project proposals and power plants under construction shall meet normative standards of emissions to the environment before their commissioning.

Aktaucity is the most suitable region as a NPP site in Kazakhstan which has necessary infrastructure for construction and exploration of a NPP. It is essential thatbefore shutting down the MangistauNuclear Power Facilityhad been running a reactor based onFN-350 fast neurons for 25 year.

The analysis of power balance in the Republic of Kazakhstan and future development considerations of the regions, which take into account substitution of decommissioned power-suppliers, established the necessity of a NPP construction in MangistauOblast. Todate, MAEC-Kazatomprom is the single power supplierin the region, which consists of 3 thermal electric generating plants (TEGP) which consume natural gas. As a matter of fact,by 2015 or 2016 the TEGP-1 and TEGP-2 will have been decommissioned due to the end of their life cycle. Consequently, the TEGP-3 will become the only power supplier in the region, and its capacity will be far frominsufficient.
Purpose of the NPP construction in Mangistau Oblast is to support the region’s industrial development by satisfying the growing needs in electric energy and district heating.

The major task iselimination of power capacity crisis in Mangistau Oblastdue to operational completion of the TEGP-1 and TEGP-2 and their replacement with a NPP (the TEGP- 1 and TEGP-2 will have been closed down by 2017 year ).

The choice substantiation of average power reactor:

• The absence of alternatives for constructionof power suppliers consuming hydrocarbon raw materials,
• the fact that the Aktau power system is isolated,
• Electric system is incapable to deploy power generating units with capacity 300 MW (lack of reserve; communication capacity islimited).

Therefore, Kazakhstan has all the conditions and suppositions for safe and reliableoperationof a Nuclear Power Plant.
Let’s consider the People Republic of China and its experience with NPPs

Corporate action to develop atomic energy industry was passed by Chinese government in the late1970s. This decision reflects general trend in the South-East Asia. Both Japanand South Korea regardnuclear power as one of the most important industries to solvepower supply problems.

China has the same reasons to develop nuclear power industry as any other country in the world. Above all, considering global fossil fuel prices building NPPs is far more advantageous [7]. Nuclear power has already become an important part of the Chinese economy.That mainly refers to more dynamically developing coastal regions that do not have their own coal reserves.

China has 2 basic nuclear power suppliers: China National Nuclear Corporation operating mainly in the north-east of China and China Guangdong nuclear power group operating its facilitiesin the south-east China.

Additional reactors including very progressive ones are to be commissioned to increasethe nuclear capacity more than 40times up to 80GW by 2020, 200GWby 2030 and 400 GWby 2050 year.

Chinese NPPs siting policy requires:

• Proximity to a river or reservoir (to cool turbine water );
• Low seismicity, hard rock foundation;
• Remoteness form populated areas;
• Existing railways;
• Proximity to large industrial consumers of electric energy;
• Connection to several local power supply networkstobalance the voltage;
• Availability of experienced personnel in nearby cities or educational centers;
• Remoteness from the state line bordering with the countries that have unstable socio-political situations, active terrorist groups etc.

Most nuclear power plants in China are inits seaside and use of sea water for cooling. China didnot abandon its nuclear power development plan following the Fukushima Disaster, but continuedto study thoroughly theNPP construction in seismic zones.

In this connection, the next safety measures were introducedin Chinese NPPs:

• Double protective shells round the reactor. Outer shell defends it from exposures (wind pressure, tornado, earthquake, flood, hurricane, crush of light aircraft etc.). Internal leak proof metal shell sustains pressure and high temperature disturbance during design accidents.
• The sites have 4 active channels of the safety system. Equipment of each of them is housed in separated accommodations. Safety channels implement the safety function independently from each other.
• System of passive head obstruction from the steam generator and from the protective shell.
• System of recombinant hydrogen in case of its formation excludes explosion probability and destruction of the shell.
• “Molten core catcher” retains and cools the fuel even in hypothetic situation, when heat from reactor is not removedwhich leads to melt down of the active zone and leak of radioactive materials from reactor body.

It is evident that development of Kazakhstan power engineering, sooner or later, will follow this suit. Also, the international practice shows that it is unlikely for Kazakhstan to solve power supply problems in the near or far future without developing nuclear power.

References

• Program of “Development of atomic field in Republic of Kazakhstan for 2010-2014 with perspectivedeveloping until 2020 year.”
• Environmental Code of Republic of Kazakhstan (as of 13/06/2013)
• Nuclear Power in Kazakhstan: raising perspectives, Alisher Tastenov http://www.kazenergy.com/en/5-42-2010/1831-2011-08-27-14-30-16.html;
• Nuclear Power in Kazakhstan http://old.kazatomprom.kz/ru/pages/Atomnaya_energetika_v_Kazahstane;
• Nuclear Powerhttp://www.powerexpo.kz/ru/nuclearpower;
• Tasekeyev M.S. Fukushima Syndrome and the future of Nuclear Power Industry – Almaty: NCSTI, 2012
• Petelin Y, Perfiliyev N. China is looking for security in power supply http://www.pircenter.org/media/content/files/11/13657556940.pdf