Kazakhstan accounts for 20% of the European Union’s uranium imports and delivered over 10 million tonnes of oil to Germany in 2025 alone. This was announced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his visit to Berlin, where he put forward a strategic framework covering critical minerals, energy, and logistics. These figures cement the Central Asian nation’s position as one of the most significant energy suppliers for Europe.
On the nuclear front, Kazakhstan is pursuing multiple tracks simultaneously. With China, President Tokayev discussed the development of an integrated production chain: from the processing of natural uranium to nuclear fuel manufacturing, all the way to the assembly of small modular reactors. The Chinese counterpart involved in the negotiations is Shanghai Junhe Atomic Technology, identified as the key interlocutor for atomic sector cooperation. Kazakhstan’s ambition goes well beyond raw material extraction — the country aims to move up the value chain to finished reactors.
The industrial base supporting these ambitions is robust. Kazatomprom, the national atomic company, recorded uranium output of 25,839 tonnes in 2025, representing approximately 40% of global production. The country holds 14% of the world’s uranium reserves and has been the leading producer without interruption since 2009. Kazatomprom has informed President Tokayev that, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, all contractual commitments are being fully honoured. Production for 2026 is expected to rise to between 27,000 and 29,000 tonnes.
On the domestic front, Kazakhstan has already committed to building its first nuclear power plants. In June 2025, the Atomic Energy Agency awarded contracts for the first three facilities to Rosatom and China’s China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). Rosatom will build two Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactors near Ulken, in the Zhambyl district, for a combined capacity of 2.4 GW. Commissioning is expected around 2035–2036. The Zhambyl district has also been identified as the site for the country’s second nuclear plant, with potential involvement of Chinese partners. The government’s goal is to achieve a 5% nuclear share in the national electricity mix by 2035, with a long-term strategy targeting at least three operational plants by 2050.
SMRs represent a separate and fast-moving chapter. In January 2026, Kazakhstan launched specific initiatives with the United States to facilitate the deployment of modular reactors, potentially to power the AI-driven data centres that Tokayev is keen to attract to the country. The SMR push could also serve as a hedge against potential delays in the delivery of the larger Russian reactors. Kazakhstan established its own Atomic Energy Agency in March 2025, providing an operational instrument to manage an investment cycle spanning multiple fronts. With this architecture — global uranium supplier, builder of conventional nuclear plants, and candidate SMR market — Kazakhstan is positioning itself as one of the most active nuclear players of the coming decade.
