The FBRK editorial team continues to write about how, ahead of the upcoming referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Kazakhstan, certain interested parties are trying in every way to influence public opinion.
It is worth noting that some of the most active public opponents of the NPP previously held a different opinion on the prospects for developing nuclear energy in our country. For example, we previously wrote that Asset Nauryzbayev, while president of KEGOC, stated that Kazakhstan is ready to develop nuclear energy, but today he expresses a completely opposite view.
Another current opponent of the NPP construction is the former head of the national atomic company "Kazatomprom", Mukhtar Dzhakishev, who believes that "on the global NPP market there is not a single station suitable for construction in Kazakhstan." However, back in 2020, he spoke in support of the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan.
Four years ago, Dzhakishev shared his opinion on the benefits of using nuclear electricity and on what prospects our country could achieve if an NPP were built. It is noteworthy that at the time, the former head of "Kazatomprom" did not mention that "none of the nuclear stations that could be offered for construction in Kazakhstan is suitable for the local energy system.".
Furthermore, in September 2021, in an interview with Armanzhan Baitasov, Dzhakishev stated the necessity of building an NPP in Kazakhstan due to a shortage of electricity and the deterioration of the country's existing stations. At that time, he dismissed alternative energy sources, namely the construction of coal, solar and wind stations.
"Until a certain point, we had an energy surplus, but now we are approaching the limit of our capacity, and on top of that there is the aging of the stations. So what should we build now? <…> Build alternative energy sources like solar and wind? But they cannot be included in reserve capacity because they are not guaranteed. So today we have only one way out of the energy crisis – to switch to nuclear energy.", – summed up Mukhtar Dzhakishev.
Separately, it is worth noting that back in distant 2001, as head of "Kazatomprom", Dzhakishev proposed making changes to the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and allowing the import of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste into the country for subsequent disposal.
Today, however, Dzhakishev believes that "an NPP is not a panacea for the electricity deficit" in Kazakhstan, and there are other, more economical and less risky ways to solve this problem. In his opinion, the government should invest in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind energy.
Earlier we wrote about possible coalitions among which the opponents of the NPP construction have supposedly divided. One of these includes those who receive funding from the USA. There is an opinion that the Americans fear Russia will win the tender for the construction of the NPP in Kazakhstan.
Another group of NPP construction opponents is supposedly comprised of representatives of the "Old Kazakhstan" elite, whose positions have recently been severely weakened. There is an opinion that the upcoming referendum is an excellent opportunity for them to sow discord in society in an attempt to regain their influence.
It is worth noting that Mukhtar Dzhakishev, like Asset Nauryzbayev, was for a long time a close friend and partner of Mukhtar Ablyazov. Given Dzhakishev and Nauryzbayev's previously mentioned contradictory statements, a reasonable question arises as to what goals these once high-ranking officials are actually pursuing by agitating against the construction of an NPP in Kazakhstan?