Kazakhstan plans to develop the settlement of Ulken and build housing and social infrastructure there as part of the nuclear power plant project. Almasadam Satkaliyev, chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy, announced the plans at a meeting with Kazakh specialists working at Turkey’s Akkuyu nuclear power plant.
The town for nuclear workers is expected to be integrated into the existing settlement and accommodate up to 33,000 people. Plans include housing, schools, medical facilities, staff training and retraining centres, as well as hotel infrastructure, services and businesses.
Satkaliyev said the project would not create a separate workers’ settlement, but would develop Ulken with the infrastructure needed for everyday life. Facilities built to support construction of the nuclear power plant could later be used for the settlement and to support entrepreneurship.
The plans also include modern digital solutions. According to the agency head, Ulken is intended to become one of the most advanced settlements on the shore of Lake Balkhash. Its landscape and location also offer opportunities for recreation and tourism, he said.
A training centre is planned to prepare, retrain and upgrade the skills of future plant employees. At the peak of construction, one nuclear power plant will require up to 15,000 workers; around 2,000 specialists will be needed for its subsequent operation.
Staff training will involve specialised educational institutions in Kazakhstan, as well as relevant organisations in China and Russia. Nuclear industry employees may also study under the Bolashak international scholarship programme, including through master’s and doctoral programmes and internships at leading foreign nuclear industry organisations.
Satkaliyev said Ulken’s development would give young people new opportunities for employment and career development. He also said specialists would be provided with housing.
