Kazakh president proposes referendum on construction of nuclear power plant

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Friday proposed a referendum on whether the country should begin the construction of a nuclear power plant.

“In 2019 … I promised that decisions on the most important strategic issues would be made through referendums. The construction or refusal to build a nuclear power plant is an extremely important issue regarding the future of our country. Therefore, I propose to submit it to a national referendum. Specific dates will be determined later,” Tokayev said in a state of the nation address at the country’s joint parliament session.

Tokayev said the development of nuclear energy has become an important economic and political issue for his country, adding that there are different opinions about building a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan.

He added that some say that Kazakhstan should generate its own nuclear energy as it is the largest uranium producer in the world, while others favor the construction of stations with small reactors.

“On the other hand, many citizens and a number of experts have concerns about the safety of nuclear power plants. And this is understandable, given the tragic legacy of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site,” Tokayev also said, adding that it is necessary to continue discussions on this issue.

The Semipalatinsk nuclear test site located in northeastern Kazakhstan was used as the primary venue for more than 450 nuclear tests conducted during the Soviet era. The site was closed in 1991.