The History of the Atomic Industry of Kazakhstan

Chronology

1944
The USSR State Defense Committee ordered the Committee for geological affairs to conduct exploration of uranium deposits by all “geology” organizations. This regulation is the reference point of  so called “mass” uranium exploration in the USSR.
1948
Establishment of  “Volkovskaya Expedition” (now Volkovgeology JSC).
1949
Output of first production (thorium oxalate) from 2a Plant, later the Ulba Metallurgical Plant.
1951
Discovery of the first uranium deposit in Kazakhstan - Kurdai.
1957
In view of the necessity for the development of physical and applied research in the field of nuclear physics and use of atomic energy in various sectors of the national economy, as well as for the purposes of training highly qualified personnel, the Academy of Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the Physics and Technology Department of the Institute of Nuclear Physics (INP) was established.
Early 1960
Due to the efforts of the geological associations: “Volkovgeology”, “Krasnoholmskgeology”, “Steppegeology” and “Koltzovskgeology” the first stage of the establishment of a uranium mineral and raw materials base, to provide stable operation of the Tselinnyi (later TsMCC), Prikaspian (“Kaskor”) and Kara-Balty (“KMPP”) refineries, on the territory of Kazakhstan, was completed.
1961
Within a short period of time and under the scientific-industrial association “Luch”, on the territory of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site, the research reactor IGR was constructed. It allowed, as early as 1961, for the beginning of experimental studies of pulse reactor dynamics and, in 1962, for progression on to the investigation into the behavior of fuel and structural materials of perspective reactor units, including the nuclear reactor engine: the research reactor IGR – a pulse thermal reactor with a homogeneous uranium-graphite reactor core of tht thermal capacity type. It is one of the world’s oldest research reactors and is now a unique source of neutron- and gamma-ray emission, characterized by high dynamics of radiation power variation.
1967
Under the Institute of Nuclear Physics, the test nuclear reactor BBR-KВ was commissioned in the village of Alatau (20km south of Almaty). At the site of the reactor, in addition to fundamental nuclear-physical and materials technology research and inside reactor tests, work for production of medical radioisotopes and gamma-ray sources, neutron legation of silicium and neutron-activation analysis was being conducted. The possibility of reactor core modernization was being studied in order to allow for the use of low-enriched uranium. 
 
Late 1970
Unique deposits suitable for uranium mining by the in-situ leaching method, such as Inkai, Mynkuduk, Moinkum, Kanzhugan and North and South Karamurun, were discovered.
1972
The world’s first commercial FBR (fast breeder reactor), the BN350, was commissioned in the city of Aktau as part of the MAEK facility. The BN-350 reactor operated for more than 25 years as a commercial energy source, continuously supplying water, electricity and heat to the largely oil and gas Mangyshlak region. At present the reactor is being decommissioned. 
1975
Another research reactor, IVG-1, commissioned on the territory of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. It was used for the testing of fuel assemblies and cores of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, including nuclear rocket reactors and nuclear unit reactors.
1980-82
Uranium production output reached its maximum in Kazakhstan. Uranium was produced at 30 deposits. The number of employees engaged in the nuclear industry was over 70,000.
1987
Based on the design of a bench prototype engine of the IRGIT nuclear reactor, the research reactor RA was developed. The reactor was used for different research up until 1997 and in 1998, pursuant to interstate agreements, reactor fuel was discharged and transported to Russia. All reactor systems were operable. Restart of reactor operation was now possible provided that new assemblies for reactor core could be fabricated.
Mid 1980
A crisis in the industry with a drop in production of 25-30%. This was mainly due to the fact that plans for new reactor construction were revised, in connection with accidents at the “Three-Mile Ireland” nuclear plant in USA and at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the USSR and because the launch of disarmament policy meant that heavy stocks of uranium, which had become unnecessary, were brought to the market.
1986-1990
Operating nuclear plants reduced their capacity by 40% and plants producing nuclear weapons started to be reorganized. As a result, the atomic industry was, for the first time, faced with the problem of a glut of uranium.
1990
A drop in production from more than 80 million lbs in the early 1990 to just over 20 million lbs of U308 in 1997. Many uranium companies, all over the world, stopped their operations.
1991
When the Republic became independent all nuclear industry enterprises located, on the territory of Kazakhstan, were passed into the possession of the Kazakh Government. The crisis in the industry continued.
1991
The President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, signed the Decree “On the shutdown of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site”.
1992
The enterprises forming part of the nuclear power and industry system were joined together as the Kazakh State Corporation of enterprises of the nuclear power industry and the atomic industry.
1993
By Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Kazakhstan the Corporation was transformed into the National Joint-Stock Company “KATEP”.
1993
In accordance with a decree by the Supreme Council,  the Republic of Kazakhstan joined the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. Nuclear stocks and test sites were abandoned.
1994
Based on the Non-Proliferation Treaty, a safeguards agreement between Kazakhstan and IAEA was signed.