Kazakhstan joins IEA tokamak program for fusion research
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Kazakhstan has joined the International Energy Agency's (IEA) Tokamak Program (CTP TCP), opening full participation in international thermonuclear fusion research, said Bauryzhan Shektibayev, deputy director for thermonuclear research at the Institute of Atomic Energy. The move integrates Kazakhstan into a global network of leading fusion programs, including China, the EU, India, Japan, South Korea, and the US, as well as ITER.
Program Participation
Kazakhstan's National Nuclear Center (NNC) has been designated as the official entity representing the country in the CTP TCP, Shektibayev said. The program unites leading national tokamak research programs from China, the European Union (EUROfusion), India, Japan, South Korea, and the United States, along with the ITER international organization. Participants jointly define research priorities, discuss experimental results from the world's largest tokamaks, coordinate scientific programs, and develop technologies for future fusion power plants.
Scientific Opportunities
The membership allows Kazakh scientists to collaborate on joint projects, exchange specialists, and conduct shared experiments with leading global research organizations. The NNC's status as the designated entity opens opportunities for other Kazakh research institutes, universities, and specialists to participate in joint projects and expert activities in plasma physics, materials science, nuclear energy, and related fields. Shektibayev emphasized that this is not merely formal membership but practical integration into the international scientific cooperation system.
KTM Tokamak Utilization
Kazakhstan's Material Science Tokamak (KTM), the only specialized tokamak facility in Central Asia, will benefit from more effective use of its scientific potential through international collaboration. Results obtained at KTM can now be widely applied in joint research programs. The program also facilitates the development of recommendations for creating future thermonuclear power stations.
What's Next
Kazakhstan is expected to begin active participation in CTP TCP working groups and joint experiments in the coming months. It remains unclear how quickly the collaboration will translate into concrete research projects or whether KTM will be upgraded to meet international standards.
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Kazakhstan joins IEA tokamak program for fusion research
