Russia Beats China and France in the Nuclear Race for Kazakhstan

Rosatom to build the country’s first atomic power plant, signaling a geopolitical and technological win.

In a high-stakes international competition, Russia has emerged victorious. The Kazakh Atomic Energy Agency has selected Rosatom—Russia’s state nuclear corporation—to lead the construction of Kazakhstan’s first-ever nuclear power plant, beating out contenders from China, France, and South Korea.

The decision followed months of intense deliberations, which included site visits and negotiations with global reactor technology providers. Final proposals were evaluated not only for cost and timelines, but also for workforce training, scientific partnerships, and long-term infrastructure development.

According to Kazakh officials, Rosatom’s offer checked all the right boxes—technically sound, economically feasible, and strategically aligned with Kazakhstan’s national interests. “Russia’s proposal proved the most balanced in terms of cost-efficiency, local capacity building, and knowledge transfer,” one agency source noted. China came in second, with France and South Korea tying for third.

This isn’t just a win for Russia’s nuclear diplomacy—it’s a broader signal of how energy infrastructure is becoming a geopolitical chessboard. The Kazakh-Russian partnership has already kicked off, with early talks focused on securing Russian export financing to support the project.

For Kazakhstan, the project represents a leap toward energy diversification and decarbonization. For Rosatom, it’s another notch in its international portfolio—and a sign that Russian nuclear tech remains globally competitive, despite political headwinds.