On the eve of Media Workers' Day, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that a referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Kazakhstan will take place in the autumn of this year.
"You are well aware that economic development is impossible without a stable energy supply. Therefore, I instructed to work out the issue of building a nuclear power plant. Currently, there is broad discussion, with various points of view being expressed. The media should also take an active part in this process", said Tokayev, speaking to media representatives.
The President believes that the country has great opportunities for the development of nuclear energy, and it is important to use them correctly and effectively. According to Tokayev, the final decision on the construction of the NPP will be made by the people. The referendum will take place this autumn; the exact date will be determined by the government.
It will be recalled that the President announced plans to hold a referendum on the NPP issue in his address to the nation on 1 September 2023, noting that the construction of a nuclear power plant is a particularly important economic and political issue.
However, earlier public hearings held in the village of Ulken, Almaty Region, on the construction of an NPP on the shore of Lake Balkhash, made it clear that the primary problem is the lack of compromise with residents, activists, and environmentalists.
Instead of a hearing procedure, the event almost turned into a scuffle: supporters presented their arguments, while opponents staged a protest.
Later, opponents of the NPP construction gathered in Almaty, where they explained their position in a calmer setting and gave their assessment of the hearings held in Ulken, as well as the prospects for the nuclear industry in Kazakhstan as a whole.
In September, Mazhilis deputy Sergei Ponomarev also commented on the public hearings that had taken place. According to him, the construction of a nuclear power plant could lead to some environmental problems, but reducing the electricity deficit in the country is necessary.
Some time later, the General Director of JSC 'Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants', Timur Zhantikin, stated that the cost of building an NPP in Kazakhstan could be around US$15 billion.