CEC of Kazakhstan announces first results of referendum on NPP construction

17:24, 07 октября 2024, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Baktygul OSMONALIEVA

More than 70 percent of referendum participants in Kazakhstan supported the construction of a nuclear power plant. The Central Election Commission reported.

The referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant was held in the republic on October 6.

The Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan emphasizes that, according to preliminary results, 71.12 percent of participants supported the construction of a nuclear power plant. This is more than 5,500 million people. At the same time, 7.8 million Kazakhstanis took part in the referendum itself. The turnout reached more than 63 percent.

There is not a single nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan to date, despite the fact that the country is the world’s largest uranium producer. Now, apparently, the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan may begin.

Earlier, the head of the Ministry of Energy Taalaibek Ibraev said that Kyrgyzstan was also thinking about building a nuclear power plant. According to him, power engineers are already looking for a suitable site for Rosatom’s nuclear power plant.

Nevertheless, the official noted that «until the people agree to the construction of the nuclear power plant, work will not begin.» However, according to him, neighboring states are already moving in this direction. Taalaibek Ibraev cited Kazakhstan as an example and stated that the referendum «will show everything.»