Sat Oct 05 05:26:59 UTC 2024: ## Kazakhstan Votes on Nuclear Power Plant Amid Environmental Concerns

**ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN** – Kazakhstan will hold a referendum on Sunday, May 27th, to decide whether to allow the construction of a nuclear power plant. The decision comes amid concerns about the project’s environmental impact and the potential dependence on neighboring China and Russia for technology.

While Kazakhstan is the world’s largest uranium miner, it hasn’t utilized nuclear power since 1999. The nation faced a power deficit last year due to aging infrastructure and a surge in energy-intensive cryptocurrency mining. This shortage led to temporary oil production cuts and hindered industrial development.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev initiated the referendum to demonstrate public support for nuclear power generation. The move follows deadly riots in early 2022, highlighting the government’s sensitivity to potential unrest. Analysts see the referendum as an attempt to legitimize a decision that appears to have already been made.

The project has sparked anxieties among some voters regarding increased reliance on Russia and China, both of which have expertise in reactor construction and existing nuclear collaborations with Kazakhstan. Additionally, concerns about corruption impacting construction standards and long-term environmental damage have been voiced in the world’s largest landlocked country, which previously served as a site for Soviet nuclear bomb tests.

Kazakhstan aims to expand its power generation capacity to 26.5 gigawatts by 2035, with nuclear energy contributing 2.4 gigawatts. Currently, the nation boasts a 20.4 gigawatt capacity.

President Tokayev has actively promoted the project, calling it a cornerstone for sustainable progress in his Thursday speech to regional lawmakers. Potential builders include China National Nuclear Corp, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co, Russia’s Rosatom Corp, and Electricite de France SA.

Experts argue that the referendum allows authorities to shift responsibility for the decision onto the public, recognizing the potential for protests. Despite the referendum, the nation faces an ongoing challenge of energy deficits and aging infrastructure. The country currently relies on Russia to offset power shortages.

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