SMALL MODULAR REACTORS (SMRs): ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY AND PROSPECTS FOR DEPLOYMENT IN KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

The article considers small modular reactors (SMRs) as a promising direction of nuclear energy development, characterised by enhanced passive safety and lower up-front investment compared with conventional large nuclear units.
A comparative analysis of leading designs, including RITM-200N, ACP100, BWRX-300 and the NuScale Power Module, is carried out on the basis of IAEA data, with particular attention to the operating experience and safety of Rosatom technologies. The economic part covers capital costs, the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) and scenarios of its variation.
Using an aggregated techno-economic model and the provisions of the Strategy for the Development of the Nuclear Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2050, approved by Presidential Decree No. 1233 of 15 April 2026, the study assesses the prospects of SMRs for replacing ageing combined heat and power (CHP) plants. The base-case LCOE of a generalised 300 MW SMR plant is estimated at 65–70 USD/MWh, which is comparable with that of new large nuclear plants.
The study concludes that SMRs are a flexible complement to large power units and an element of the future energy system of Kazakhstan.