On September 1, Kazakhstan's President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during his customary address to the nation, suggested conducting a nationwide referendum to determine whether a nuclear power plant should be constructed in the country. The president mentioned that the specific details and timing of this decision would be determined later, his press service reports.
He stated, "During my election campaign in 2019, I pledged that pivotal strategic decisions would be subject to referendums. The construction or abandonment of a nuclear power plant is a highly significant matter concerning our nation's future. Therefore, I propose to submit it to a national referendum."
Tokayev acknowledged the existence of differing opinions regarding the wisdom of establishing a nuclear power plant in the country. "On one hand, as the world's largest producer of uranium, Kazakhstan should possess its own nuclear generation. Some experts advocate the construction of small reactor facilities. On the other hand, many citizens and experts express concerns about the safety of nuclear power plants. Given the tragic history of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, such concerns are understandable," the president remarked.
He emphasized the importance of continuing public dialogues and fostering widespread discussions on this matter.
In early June, it was revealed that the Russian state corporation "Rosatom" had intentions to construct a small nuclear power plant in Kyrgyzstan. In November 2022, Rusatom Energy Projects, in collaboration with the Kyrgyz Ministry of Energy, signed technical agreements for the preliminary feasibility study of building a small nuclear power plant in Kyrgyzstan, a development that transpired within the framework of the "Atomexpo-2022" exhibition.
The corporation also discussed similar plans with Uzbekistan. Gennadiy Sakharov expressed Rosatom's readiness to commence the construction promptly once the Uzbek partners finalize the contract for the first nuclear power plant.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)