Eurasian Integration Yearbook 2012

Natalia Maqsimchook. “Chronicle of EurasianRegional Integration 2011”2011: Data and Reviewspower plant by 50%. Ekibastuz GRES-2 Station JSC is owned jointly by Russianand Kazakh shareholders (half each by Inter RAO UES and Samruk-Kazyna).The two countries also signed an agreement on integration and cooperation onthe peaceful use of nuclear energy and a Joint Statement by Rosatom, Russia’sState Nuclear Energy Corporation, and Kazatomprom, Kazakhstan’s NationalAtomic Company.Russia to invest in Afghanistan’s electricity systemJanuary 21, 2011IA Novosti-KazakhstanRussia’s state-controlled energy trader Inter RAO is to invest $500 million ina project to supply electricity to Afghanistan, Prime Minister Vladimir Putinsaid during a meeting with Afghan leader Hamid Karzai. The $680 millionCASA-1000 project involves the construction of power transmission lines fromKyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan.Putin said that if Inter RAO bid successfully to be the project’s operator,the Russian company could take an active part in the construction of highvoltageelectric power lines as part of the CASA-1000 project, bringing Russianinvestment to a total of $500 million.Nuclear integrationApril 4, 2011Finam.ruRussia and Kazakhstan have signed an agreement on the peaceful use of nuclearenergy, which foresees inter alia the construction of a nuclear power plant inAktau, the first two reactors of which would be commissioned in 2016.One of the flagship joint projects is a new uranium enrichment centre at theUralsk Electrochemical Plant. Back in 2007 Russia and Kazakhstan had agreedto construct the International Uranium Enrichment Centre (IUEC) on the basis ofthe Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Complex. The IUEC is currently engaged instoring enriched uranium. In the longer term it will also recycle spent fuel fromabroad. However, during the EurAsEC summit in 2010 in Astana Russian atomicspecialists put forward an alternative proposal for another uranium enrichmentcentre (UEC) at the Uralsk Electrochemical Plant in Novouralsk.Russia and Kazakhstan will have an equal stake in the project. Rosatom’ssubsidiary, TVEL Fuel Company, purchased 50% of shares in UEC on March25. The remaining 50% is owned by Kazatomprom. The parties have not yetdisclosed any information about the cost of Kazakhstan’s share in the jointventure, the date construction will begin or the investment required.Eurasian Development Bank273