After a presentation of Nukem's expertise relevant to Kazakhstan's nuclear programme, the participants exchanged views on specific areas of cooperation for the first time. "Nukem is proud to support Kazakhstan's visionary nuclear programme with its globally recognised expertise in back-end technologies," said Seipolt. Although it does not currently use nuclear energy, it is not without nuclear experience: it has three operating research reactors, and a Russian-designed BN-350 sodium-cooled fast reactor operated near Aktau for 26 years, until 1999. Kazakhstan has been preparing for a possible nuclear power programme to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, diversify its energy mix and reduce CO2 emissions for some time. The Kazakh government has formally selected the Zhambyl district of Almaty region as the location for its first proposed nuclear power plant.