Kazakhstan unveils comprehensive nuclear cooperation Roadmap to IAEA

Kazakhstan has presented the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with a draft Roadmap for Cooperation, outlining priorities for expanded engagement in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The roadmap was unveiled during a meeting at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna between a Kazakh delegation led by Gumar Sergazin, Deputy Chair of the Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Agency, and Hua Liu, Deputy Director General of the IAEA, Kazinform reports.

The talks focused on the current state and future prospects of Kazakhstan–IAEA cooperation, including collaboration under the 2026–2027 and 2028–2029 technical cooperation program cycles.

The draft document was prepared following agreements reached between Almassadam Satkaliyev, Chairman of Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Agency, and IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi during the 69th IAEA General Conference in September 2025. It sets out a broad range of priority areas, including the safe development of nuclear power and enhanced regulatory oversight, human resource development, the expansion of scientific and educational infrastructure, wider application of nuclear medicine, and initiatives related to environmental protection, climate change, food safety, veterinary services, and water resources.

In discussions on nuclear power plant construction and the development of national nuclear infrastructure, the Kazakh delegation underscored the importance of continued IAEA support in strengthening the country’s regulatory authority and in developing and adapting the legal and regulatory framework governing the design, construction, and operation of nuclear power plants.

The meeting concluded with agreement on further steps, notably the establishment of an IAEA working group to review the draft Roadmap and formulate recommendations.

Particular attention was also devoted to advancing nuclear medicine and oncology services in Kazakhstan. With the support of Kazakhstan’s Permanent Mission to international organizations in Vienna, coordination meetings were held on December 17–18 with relevant IAEA departments involving representatives of the Atomic Energy Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the National Research Oncology Center (NNOC).

During these exchanges, the Kazakh delegation received guidance on key thematic areas. Consultations with May Abdel-Wahab. Director of the IAEA Division of Human Health, helped identify avenues for cooperation between the NNOC and the IAEA in the development of nuclear medicine, while discussions with technical cooperation program managers clarified ongoing collaboration and highlighted prospective national projects in this field.

Overall, the visit enabled Kazakhstan to gain a clearer understanding of the institutional, legal, and organizational mechanisms required for the effective and safe development of nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes. The IAEA, for its part, reaffirmed its readiness to provide comprehensive support for the implementation of Kazakhstan’s initiatives in the nuclear sector.

By Vafa Guliyeva