At present, one of the goals of the state policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan is to achieve carbon neutrality. Our country has signed the relevant conventions and assumed a number of obligations, the fulfilment of which is impossible without significant transformations in the structure of energy production.

In recent years, Kazakhstani scientists have given a new impetus to research and development to improve the safety of nuclear energy and the development of controlled thermonuclear fusion technologies. The efforts made allowed to bring the conducted work to a high qualitative level, to obtain new scientific results demanded in the Republic of Kazakhstan and recognised by the world scientific community, to ensure advanced positions of Kazakhstan science in these high-tech and knowledge-intensive areas.

The work carried out by the researchers illustrates an unprecedented case of conversion of the military-industrial complex into a unique scientific and technical complex, where large-scale research is currently being conducted in the field of reactor and radiation materials science, safety substantiation of the use of new types of nuclear fuel, and much more. This once again proves that the scientific results obtained, recognized and widely demanded by the world scientific and technical community, demonstrate the high level and uniqueness of the research conducted at NNC RK.

The results obtained to substantiate the safety of nuclear reactors, innovative developments to substantiate the safety of new fuels, as well as studies of the processes of the aftermath of an accident at a nuclear power plant and modeling of the interaction of corium with protective coatings of the melt trap are unique and aimed at international cooperation in the nuclear industry.

The commissioning of the first in the world and the Republic of Kazakhstan KTM materials science tokamak, which allows to conduct research on plasma physics and testing of candidate materials of thermonuclear reactors with thermal load up to 20 MW/m2, which corresponds to the loads that will take place in the first experimental thermonuclear reactor ITER, is a very significant event for Kazakhstan and the world scientific community. The results of studies of materials of nuclear and thermonuclear reactors, in particular, studies of candidate materials of the first wall of a thermonuclear reactor and technologies for obtaining materials with improved operational properties are already of great scientific and practical importance.

The articles published in the work greatly contribute to the promotion of the unique experience of Kazakhstan, strengthening the international status of our state. Moreover, the results of the scientific and scientific-technical activities outlined in this paper will make a significant contribution to the Strategy of Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2060.

Thus, for several years, domestic nuclear scientists have carried out large-scale work on world-class research and development to create the nuclear energy industry and implement the Strategy of Achieving Carbon Neutrality of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The results of this scientific work are presented for the award of the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Field of Science and Technology named after Al-Farabi in 2023.

For reference:

The State Prize (since 2015) is the highest recognition of the merits of scientists and technicians to the society and the state. The State Prize is awarded to the citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan for outstanding results in the field of fundamental and applied research, leading to a significant acceleration of the economic and social development of the republic, the entry of Kazakh science and technology to the level of advanced achievements in the world, scientific discovery, monographs and scientific work in one area that have received wide public recognition, the development and organization of production of new types of equipment, materials and technologies at the level or higher than world analogues, development and creation of fundamentally new products, technological processes in various sectors of the economy.

The State Prize is awarded by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Independence Day, once every 2 years.