The works on Kazakhstan's first-ever nuclear power plant construction site officially kicked off near the village of Ulken in Almaty region.

Axar.az informs, citing Kazinform News Agency, the ceremony also saw the launch of drilling operations to collect soil. The capsule containing the soil samples will be handed over to Russia for research.

Head of the Kazakh Atomic Energy Agency Almassadam Satkaliyev and director general of Rosatom State Corporation Alexey Likhachev and other officials took part in the ceremony.

Construction of Kazakhstan’s first NPP is scheduled to be completed in 2035-2036.

Four companies, including CNNC, ICHNP, Rosatom and EDF, representing four countries, namely, China, South Korea, Russia and France were shortlisted as technology suppliers for the NPP construction in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Agency together with international experts announced Russia’s Rosatom as the leader of the Consortium for the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant.

In addition, Kazakhstan and Russia signed documents determining the main phases of preparation and implementation of the nuclear plant construction project.