Pyongyang, October 10 (KCNA) -- Kazakhstan may have a nuclear power plant within the next 10 years, an official from the state-owned nuclear power firm Kazatomprom said Wednesday.

"In the near future we need to identify the role and place of nuclear power in the country's energy balance, determine the locations for nuclear power plants (NPP), choose the best nuclear technology, primarily, in terms of safety," the company's deputy head told the 6th Eurasian Kazenergy Forum.

The Kazakh government first revealed its intent to construct a NPP near Lake Balkhash in 1998.