Opportunity for Groundbreaking Technological Advancements in the Nuclear Sector
In a memorable address during a gathering of scientific minds on the brink of Science Day, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hammered home the crucial role of science in propelling the nuclear sector forward. This unified force of knowledge seekers will unleash a chain reaction, accelerating growth across all scientific fields—from fundamental to applied.
For years, Kazakhstan has stuck to a burning ambition: breaking the shackles of raw material dependency and reaching for higher grounds in manufacturing. The decision to build a nuclear power plant and invest in nuclear energy is a giant leap toward constructing a tech-savvy, knowledge-rich industry within the nation's borders. This move will also serve as a significant catalyst for the development of cutting-edge science and engineering.
As history shows, there's a pattern among global leaders in this domain—the United States, Russia, European nations, China, and South Korea all trodden this path. There are even examples of countries who, after initiating a nuclear power plant, found themselves in dire need of tackling external threats to ensure the plant's stable operation.
Kazakhstan has walked the dual edge of nuclear energy due to its unique historical circumstances. From this, we have built infrastructure and technological expertise relevant to managing this sector. Our arsenal includes the National Nuclear Center in Kurchatov, the Mangystau Nuclear Power Plant Complex (MAEK) in Aktau, and the Institute of Nuclear Physics. However, it's essential to acknowledge that the foundation of the nuclear industry's scientific knowledge base was primarily established elsewhere. Basic and applied research challenges were addressed abroad in fields like nuclear physics, high-energy physics, astrophysics, and mathematics, whether computational or applied math.
Even today, cutting-edge research in cosmic and high-energy physics continues to lead the way, and the knowledge gained in these areas is easily accessible to everyone tackling similar issues. These scientific pursuits hinge on advanced tools grounded in the most advanced achievements in mathematics and computer science, including AI, big data processing, and machine learning.
Having a deep-rooted knowledge base of nuclear energy expertise is crucial for developing the scientific and engineering infrastructure, as well as nurturing the human talent that will keep a nuclear power plant humming. To ensure its own qualified workforce and the capacity to assess the technologies that will be integrated into the economy, our country should sustain a high level of basic and fundamental scientific and technical research.
Nuclear power plants produce electricity with minimal carbon dioxide emissions, making them essential for achieving global sustainability. Cost savings should not be the top priority when choosing a technology provider for the operation of a nuclear power plant. Rather, we must aim to fully understand how well we can integrate these technologies into our scientific, technical, and human potential, and adequately prepare for their everyday use. The presence of this type of energy in the country's energy mix also raises concerns about culture, safety, and geopolitics.
For example, we all casually interact with everyday devices like phones, fridge, and TV. Most of us can figure out how to turn them on and off, but only a select few possess the expertise needed to repair them, and an even smaller group truly understands the underlying physics that drive these devices. Similarly, in the international market of countries developing and producing nuclear power plants, we are consumers—but we must be more than mere operators when it comes to ensuring the safety of this complex facility.
Having said that, Kazakhstan still has time to adequately prepare for the construction of a nuclear power plant. We can strengthen our national expertise, train qualified personnel, and foster scientific schools to prepare ourselves for this significant step.
A nuclear power plant is not just a nuclear furnace overseen by trained operators—it's an intricate automated control system backed by AI, AI-powered mathematical tools. It's crucial to understand how capable we are of adapting control systems, automation, software, and AI components that are integral to this sophisticated engineering and technical setup. This is vital for ensuring the safe operation of the plant without posing a threat to the people.
In the realm of nuclear energy, we cannot settle for being smartphone users. Kazakhstan still has time to properly prepare for the realization of the decision to build a nuclear power plant: to strengthen our national expertise, train qualified staff, and cultivate scientific colleges.
Kanat Baigarin serves as the Chief Officer for Sustainable Development at Nazarbayev University.
- President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the importance of science in the advancement of the nuclear sector, highlighting its potential to accelerate growth across scientific fields.
- Nuclear innovations in Kazakhstan, such as the construction of a nuclear power plant, are part of a long-term goal to transition from raw material dependency to a tech-savvy, knowledge-rich industry.
- Geopolitical considerations are crucial when dealing with nuclear energy, as demonstrated by global leaders such as the United States, Russia, European nations, China, and South Korea, who have also ventured into nuclear energy.
- Kanat Baigarin, the Chief Officer for Sustainable Development at Nazarbayev University, plays a key role in preparing Kazakhstan for the challenges and opportunities presented by nuclear energy.
- To ensure the safe operation of a nuclear power plant, Kazakhstan needs to foster a deep understanding of AI, big data processing, and machine learning, alongside sustainable development strategies, to accommodate the plant's intricate automated control system.
