International competition for a feasibility study on construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan will be held this year. A special company has already been established by Kazatomprom. However, the final decision on the nuclear power plant construction will be taken only after the competition, the head of the National Nuclear Center specified.

ERLAN BATYRBEKOV, DIRECTOR GENERAL, NATIONAL NUCLEAR CENTER OF KAZAKHSTAN:
- Kurchatov is obviously an ideal site for construction of the nuclear power plant. But it is not very good in terms of energy balance, because we have our own coal production here. The most suitable in this regard is probably Balkhash. Balkhash is located in the center of the country, and there are some energy needs.