Astana, 28 August 2024 (TDI): Kazakhstan government has approved a draft resolution to hold a national referendum on constructing a nuclear power plant.
The meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, discussed the prospects for developing nuclear energy in the country.
Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev said that the referendum would allow citizens to make an important decision about the future of the country’s energy security.
Bektenov sresed that Kazakhstan had mastered almost the entire cycle of nuclear fuel production and had experience with small reactors. However, the current shortage of energy capacity needs new solutions to avoid purchasing electricity from abroad.
With the global abandonment of coal-fired power plants and the limited potential of renewable energy sources, the development of nuclear power is the most promising direction, he added.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, 415 nuclear power units operate globally, and sixty one new units are under construction in fifteen countries, including China and the UK.
With its considerable uranium resource base, Kazakhstan can ensure stable electricity tariffs and independence from raw material price fluctuations.
Modern NPPs have a multi-level safety system that meets IAEA standards.
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Bektenov said that nuclear power should become the basis for Kazakhstan’s energy-intensive economy, stimulating innovation and industry development.
The draft resolution was supported unanimously. The Ministry of Energy and the Government Office were asked to submit a draft decree to the Presidential Administration.
Issue of Nuclear Power Plant
Talks on constructing a nuclear power plant in country have been ongoing for many years. The idea of the need for a nuclear power plant first appeared after the closure of the Soviet reactor in Aktau in 1999. Since then, the country has repeatedly raised questions about the development of nuclear power, particularly in the context of improving energy security and climate change resilience.
