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Ecology How a nuclear plant affects nature, water and climate — and how that impact is controlled at every stage.

Low-carbon generationAir, water and soil monitoringProtecting Lake Balkhash

Ecology and nuclear power

Nuclear power emits almost no greenhouse gases, but it requires a responsible approach to water, waste and the environment. Here is each aspect in plain language.

01 Environmental impact The plant’s impact on nature is assessed before construction and monitored throughout its lifetime. Learn more → 02 Water and water use Water is needed for cooling. The design provides closed-loop schemes and strict accounting of water use. Learn more → 03 Impact on Lake Balkhash Preserving the lake’s level and ecosystem is a mandatory condition of the project. Learn more → 04 Emissions and CO₂ Over the life cycle, nuclear generation is comparable to wind and solar in CO₂ emissions. Learn more → 05 Background radiation An NPP’s contribution to background radiation is hundreds of times lower than natural radiation. Learn more → 06 Air, water and soil monitoring A network of observation posts records the state of air, water and soil around the site. Learn more → 07 Radioactive waste and spent fuel What waste an NPP produces, how it is classified and where it is stored — briefly and clearly. Learn more → 08 Decommissioning The decommissioning plan and its funding are set aside already at the design stage. Learn more → 09 Environmental assessment The environmental impact assessment (EIA) is carried out publicly and undergoes state environmental review. Learn more →

Environmental impact

The plant’s impact on nature is assessed before construction and monitored throughout its lifetime.

In normal operation an NPP burns no fuel and emits no sulphur or nitrogen oxides or ash. The main impact factors are: • thermal — heat removal through the cooling system; • water use — water intake and return; • land use for the site and infrastructure; • management of radioactive and conventional waste. Each factor is assessed within the environmental impact assessment and is under constant control of the plant and the state.

ⓘ This section was moved from « Nuclear Energy »

Nuclear Energy and Ecology

Nuclear energy is one of the most environmentally friendly sources of electricity.

  • When generating 1 kWh, a nuclear plant emits only about 12 grams of CO₂, which is dozens of times less than coal or gas plants.
  • One 1000 MW NPP prevents the emission of up to 4 million tons of CO₂ per year — equivalent to removing about 1 million cars from the roads.
  • This effect is comparable to the air purification provided by 200 million trees or the preservation of hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest.
  • The development of nuclear energy helps Kazakhstan reduce its carbon footprint and protect the environment for future generations.

Water and water use

Water is needed for cooling. The design provides closed-loop schemes and strict accounting of water use.

At an NPP water cools the turbine condensers and auxiliary equipment. Primary-circuit water that contacts the reactor circulates in a closed loop and never enters the environment. • Cooling towers and recirculating systems reduce water withdrawal. • Returned water is checked for temperature and chemical composition. • Water use volumes are agreed with the authorities and take the regional water balance into account.

Impact on Lake Balkhash

Preserving the lake’s level and ecosystem is a mandatory condition of the project.

Lake Balkhash is a unique water body, and the NPP project treats it as an object of special protection. • Calculations show that the plant’s consumptive water use is a small fraction of evaporation from the lake surface. • Hydrological and hydrobiological studies are under way: level, salinity, temperature, fish stocks. • Warm-water discharge is designed so that the heated zone stays local and does not affect the ecosystem. • Observation results will be published in the monitoring section.

Background radiation

An NPP’s contribution to background radiation is hundreds of times lower than natural radiation.

People constantly receive a dose from natural sources — cosmic rays, radon, natural radionuclides in soil and food — about 2.4 mSv per year on average. • The additional dose for residents near an operating NPP is usually below 0.01 mSv per year. • For comparison: a long-haul flight gives about 0.03–0.05 mSv, a chest X-ray about 0.1 mSv. • Background values around the site are measured before construction so that operating data can later be compared with them.

Decommissioning

The decommissioning plan and its funding are set aside already at the design stage.

A modern unit has a 60-year service life with possible extension. After final shutdown: 1. Fuel is unloaded and sent to storage. 2. Equipment is decontaminated and dismantled. 3. Waste is sorted, treated and transferred to storage. 4. The site is restored to “greenfield” condition or reused for new facilities. Decommissioning funds are accumulated in a dedicated fund throughout the plant’s operation.

Environmental assessment

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) is carried out publicly and undergoes state environmental review.

The EIA is mandatory before any construction decision. • The baseline state of nature is studied: climate, water, soil, flora and fauna, public health. • The plant’s impact is modelled for normal operation and for accidents. • Materials are discussed at public hearings; citizens’ questions and comments are recorded. • The conclusion of the state environmental review is published. EIA materials and hearing minutes are available in the Documents section.

Emissions and CO₂

Over the life cycle, nuclear generation is comparable to wind and solar in CO₂ emissions.

A nuclear plant burns no fuel, so no CO₂ is produced when generating electricity. Small emissions occur only during construction, uranium mining and fuel fabrication. Replacing coal generation with nuclear will allow Kazakhstan to avoid millions of tonnes of CO₂ every year. Calculate the difference yourself:

CO₂ calculator

Comparing emissions from different energy sources

A quick calculation of CO₂ emissions for the same volume of electricity generation.

Calculation is approximate and based on average CO₂ emission factors.

CO₂ Emissions

820 т

Уголь · 1 000 МВт·ч

Result explanation

При выработке 1 000 МВт·ч уголь формирует около 820 т CO₂. Если тот же объём произвести на атомной станции, выбросы составят примерно 12 т. Это на 808 т меньше, то есть выбросы можно сократить примерно на 98,5%.

Comparison with NPPС

68,3×

Difference with NPP

808 т

Car equivalent

≈ 182

Air, water and soil monitoring

A network of observation posts records the state of air, water and soil around the site.

Environmental monitoring begins before construction (baseline measurements) and continues throughout operation. Below are the latest data for the observation points.

Observation points

Point Indicator Value Permissible level Measured on Assessment
NPP site, post 1 Gamma dose rate 0,12 µSv/h 0,30 µSv/h 2026-09-15 Within limits
Ulken village Gamma dose rate 0,11 µSv/h 0,30 µSv/h 2026-09-15 Within limits
Lake Balkhash, intake point Caesium-137 specific activity 0,08 Bq/L 10 Bq/L 2026-09-10 Within limits
Soil, control plot Caesium-137 in soil 18 Bq/kg 1000 Bq/kg 2026-09-01 Within limits
Air, buffer-zone boundary Total beta activity of aerosols 0,4 mBq/m³ 27 mBq/m³ 2026-09-12 Within limits

Coming soon: an interactive map of monitoring points. Data shown is test data, updated via the admin panel.

Radioactive waste and spent fuel

What waste an NPP produces, how it is classified and where it is stored — briefly and clearly.

• Spent nuclear fuel (SNF) — fuel that has completed its time in the reactor. Its volume is small: a 1,200 MW unit discharges about 25 tonnes a year. • Operational radioactive waste — protective clothing, filters, ion-exchange resins, tools. • Ordinary industrial waste, as at any enterprise.
Radioactive waste is divided by activity level: • very low and low level — about 90% of the volume but only ~1% of the radioactivity; • intermediate level — resins, chemical sludge, equipment parts; • high level — mainly spent fuel (if it is not reprocessed). Treatment, packaging and storage time depend on the class.
• Spent fuel is first kept for several years in the on-site cooling pool, then moved to dry storage in shielded casks. • Low- and intermediate-level waste is compacted, cemented or incinerated in special facilities and placed in on-site stores. • Stores are monitored continuously: tightness, temperature, radiation levels.
• The plant operator is responsible for safe waste management on site and funds future management through dedicated funds. • The state, via the regulator, licenses storage facilities and enforces the rules. • The national radioactive waste management operator is responsible for long-term storage and disposal.
• Finland is the first country building a deep geological repository for spent fuel, Onkalo. • France and Russia reprocess spent fuel, returning valuable materials to the fuel cycle and reducing high-level waste volumes. • The USA, Canada and Sweden have safely stored spent fuel in dry casks for decades. Kazakhstan studies this experience when choosing its national strategy.