Kazakh-Japanese nuclear cooperation highlighted during presidential visit

The agreement between the National Atomic Company Kazatomprom JSC group of companies and the Kansai Electric Power Co marks a significant milestone in establishing a sustainable supply chain for the Japanese nuclear industry, as the country continues the gradual restart of its nuclear fleet and its integration into the national energy balance, Kazatomprom said.

"Our cooperation with Kansai contributes to the sustainability of the Japanese power grid as the country gradually returns to nuclear energy, and underscores Kazatomprom's recognition as a reliable uranium supplier in the global market," Kazatomprom CEO Meirzhan Yussupov said. "Through joint efforts with our customers worldwide, we continue to make a significant contribution to achieving global decarbonisation goals."

Kansai operates seven nuclear reactors at the Mihama, Takahama, and Ohi power stations. It is considering the possibility of building a new reactor at the Mihama site in Fukui Prefecture as a replacement for unit 1, which was declared permanently shut down in 2015. The Japanese company has been in partnership with Kazatomprom since 2006 through the Kazakh-Japanese uranium production joint venture APPAK LLP in which it holds 10% (with Sumitomo holding 25% and Kazatomprom 65%).

Favourable opportunities

The combination of Kazakhstan's resource potential and Japan's advanced nuclear technologies "opens up favourable opportunities for successful cooperation", Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in an address to the First Central Asia-Japan Dialogue Summit during his visit to Tokyo. Of particular interest are projects in the areas of nuclear waste management, nuclear safety, and the training of highly qualified personnel, including in the field of civil protection, he said.

The president's official visit to Japan saw nuclear energy feature in several bilateral agreements worth a total of some USD3.72 billion signed by Japanese and Kazakh entities, according to the Kazakh presidency.

These include:

A Memorandum of Cooperation on research and development of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, between Kazakhstan's Atomic Energy Agency and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA);

A Memorandum on strengthening cooperation in the field of applied research, also between the Atomic Energy Agency and JAEA;

A Memorandum of Cooperation on expanding scientific ties, between Kazakhstan's National Nuclear Center (NNC) and Marubeni Utility Services Ltd;

A Memorandum of Understanding on spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste management, between the NNC and Muroosystems Corporation;

A Memorandum of Understanding on research and development in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, between the NNC and the Nuclear Engineering Research Institute of the University of Fukui);

A commercial contract for conducting a feasibility study of irradiation testing of fuel for a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, between Kazakhstan's Institute of Nuclear Physics, the JAEA and Marubeni Utility Services Ltd.