ENU discussed prospects for the development of nuclear energy in Kazakhstan

The L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University hosted a round table “Prospects for the Development of Nuclear Energy in Kazakhstan” dedicated to the referendum on the construction of nuclear power plants in Kazakhstan. The event was organized by the International Department of Nuclear Physics, New Materials and Technologies of the Institute of Physical and Technical Sciences of the L.N. Gumilyov ENU.

The main topic of the round table is to exchange views on the construction of nuclear power plants in Kazakhstan. The discussion was attended by ENU teachers, students and guests.

Moderator of the round table, Professor of the Nuclear Physics, New Materials and Technologies Department of the ENU Institute of Physical and Technical Sciences Aidar Morzabayev noted:

“Our task is to clearly explain to Kazakhstanis the situation in the field of nuclear energy, how important it is for us to build a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan now, and help them make an informed choice. As we know, our population has been very susceptible to radiophobia since the closure of the Semipalatinsk test site, and when people hear the words “atom”, “nuclear energy”, they are sharply rejected. In fact, times are changing, and each subsequent project of nuclear projectors, especially stations, which are being tightened, are becoming safer. Of course, it is impossible to say that they are completely safe, because this is a technique. Nevertheless, all subsequent versions of nuclear power plants have greater safety than the previous ones. Moreover, there is no direct contact with the environment at these stations. It is also worth bearing in mind that nuclear power plants are not only the production of nuclear energy, which takes place in a closed format, but also electrical and thermal energy. Stations that simultaneously produce both types of energy: electric and thermal, thereby increasing the efficiency, have the highest efficiency. Unfortunately, all the skepticism that we see in society regarding the construction of nuclear power plants is due to ignorance.”

A.Muorzabayev also provided information on current trends in nuclear power plants.

Nurlan Amangeldy, Associate Professor of the Nuclear Physics, New Materials and Technologies Department of ENU Institute of Physical and Technical Sciences, spoke about environmental problems and energy security related to nuclear power plants.

“There is a debate in society now about whether we need a nuclear power plant and how safe it is for our country. But, as scientists say, from the point of view of nuclear power plant safety, the population should not worry. I should note that in our country, at any metallurgical plant, there are rules for the storage of radiation waste. By the way, now scientists from Japan and France are jointly developing a new technology that will allow the use of radiation waste as secondary fuel. The expediency of building a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan is already recognized by environmentalists,” he said.

There were also reports from the representative of the Astana branch of the RSE “Institute of Nuclear Physics” Dmitry Shlimas – “Prospects for the Development of Nuclear Energy in KAZAKHSTAN”, senior teachers of the Nuclear Physics, New Materials and Technologies Department of ENU Institute of Physical and Technical Sciences Bakhytzhan Urazbekov – “Safety Measures in Modern Generation 3+ Reactors” and Aisulu Nygymanova – “Training Personnel for Nuclear Industry at the L.N. Gumilyov ENU”.

There was a discussion on the presented reports. Dilnaz Akambayeva, a 1st year student of ENU Institute of Physical and Technical Sciences, also shared her opinion:

“If we look at the situation with mines in Kazakhstan now, we can see how unsafe individual mines are operating.  There are a lot of accidents. Also, mines are very harmful to our ecology. I think that mines and the consumption of resources from the earth are very unpromising now. If earlier we were proud that Kazakhstan has a lot of resources and we can use them for an infinite number of years, now we see that this is not the case, and we need to switch to a new type of energy, and this is atomic energy. I think that the nuclear power plant will operate safely, as specialists will monitor its operation. I study at ENU with a major in “Nuclear Physics”, choosing this specialty purposefully. In the future, I would like to work at a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan and develop this industry.”