Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom announced at a briefing that it is looking at Kyrgyzstan’s northern Chui region in its search for a site that would be suitable for the country’s first nuclear power plant (NPP), local media have reported.

In late May, bne IntelliNews reported that Rosatom had prepared preliminary feasibility studies for the construction of small NPPs in Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar. The studies were mentioned in the annual report of Atomenergoprom, a subsidiary of the company.

Regional press reports said on October 1 that Rosatom specialists studied the seismic potential of southern Kyrgyzstan and concluded that there are many faults in the earth’s crust that would pose a danger to an NPP. In contrast, they reportedly found that Kyrgyzstan’s north is less prone to seismic fluctuations.

“The most suitable location for this project is the northern Chui oblast [region], where seismicity is the lowest. But we have not been able to name a specific site so far. A detailed study is needed. There are places in Kyrgyzstan where a nuclear power plant can be built, but not many,” Dmitry Konstantinov, general director of Rosatom’s Russian representative office in Kyrgyzstan, was quoted as saying.

Parameters that must be considered when choosing a site for an NPP include seismic activity, remoteness from population centres, power line networks and a water source in terms of the cooling needs of the plant, he was further reported as stating.

On May 27, Rosatom announced a nuclear energy construction deal with Uzbekistan to build that country six small modular reactors (SMRs), each with a capacity of 55 megawatts. The reactors will make up Central Asia’s first NPP. A launch is expected by 2029.

Rosatom has also recommended 55-MW SMRs for Kyrgyzstan.

The SMRs were designed originally to power ships, such as Artic icebreakers.

On October 6, Kazakhstan will hold a referendum on constructing an NPP.

If there is a ‘Yes’ vote, Rosatom can be expected to build the plant, while competition could come from Chinese, French and South Korean companies, among others.

Kyrgyzstan is also expected to organise a popular vote on whether the country should have an NPP.