No Referendum on Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plant Construction
Construction of Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Power Plant Will Not Be Put to a Referendum
The Vice Minister of Energy, Zhandos Nurmaganbetov, has confirmed that the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Kazakhstan will not be subject to a referendum. This announcement came during a meeting of the Senate, the upper house of the Parliament, on June 15.
Earlier, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had stated that the decision to build the NPP would be submitted to a referendum if deemed necessary. However, the Vice Minister clarified that there will be no referendum and instead, the terms and location of the NPP will be determined through public discussions and the involvement of the maslikhat (local representative body) of the Almaty Region.
Nurmaganbetov stated that the first step is to determine the location of the site. Following that, discussions will focus on the implementation of the technology, the financial and economic model, and the potential impact of the NPP. The NPP, with two reactors and an estimated cost of $10-12 billion, was initially planned to be constructed in the Ulken village on the shore of Lake Balkhash in the Almaty Region between 2034 and 2035.
The Vice Minister also revealed that international companies involved in the nuclear power sector have expressed interest in cooperating with Kazakhstan. Recent talks have been held with a South Korean nuclear power company, and proposals are awaited from China.
The decision not to hold a referendum reflects the government’s confidence in its ability to make informed decisions regarding the construction of the NPP. With a focus on public discussions and engagement with local representatives, Kazakhstan aims to ensure that all aspects of the project are thoroughly considered before proceeding.
