Kazakhstan will hold a national referendum to determine whether to construct a nuclear power plant, a subject that has sparked intense public debate. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made the announcement during his state-of-the-nation address on Sept. 1.
Tokayev emphasized that any decision regarding the construction of a nuclear power plant is an “extremely significant matter for the country’s future.” The call for a national referendum brings crucial questions about the nation’s energy policy to the forefront.
“I propose that we address this through a national referendum. Specific dates will be announced later,” Tokayev told a joint session of the Kazakh Parliament, attended by government officials as well as representatives from the public sector and non-governmental organizations.
President Tokayev acknowledged the societal divide on the issue.
“There are varying opinions on the need for a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan. On one hand, as the world’s largest uranium producer, we should have our own nuclear generation capabilities. Some experts advocate for plants with smaller reactors. On the other hand, many citizens and experts express safety concerns, especially given the tragic history of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site,” he said.
In June 2019, shortly after taking office, Tokayev had said a referendum would be held “if necessary.” However, in the same month, Vice Minister of Energy Zhandos Nurmaganbetov dismissed the idea of a referendum.
