Kazakhstan voters greenlight construction of nuclear power plant, setting concerns aside

Almost three-quarters of Kazakhstan voters said “yes” in a nationwide referendum held on 6 October, which asked citizens if they agreed with the construction of a nuclear power plant.

According to preliminary results shared by the Central Referendum Commission (CRC) a day after the vote, 71.12 per cent of the voters backed the building of the country’s first nuclear power plant, with a turnout just shy of 64 per cent.

Almaty, the largest city, registered a turnout of only 25 per cent, the lowest recorded in this referendum. The majority of the residents were reportedly against this plan but decided to boycott the vote.

Out of nearly 8 million votes cast, over 130,000 ballots were declared invalid. Some 83,000 others were recognised as valid but did not count, as citizens had voted for both the “yes” and “no” option.

More than 50 per cent of the eligible voters had to participate in the voting for the result to count. But despite the yes-vote on the single-question ballots used on 6 October, many issues remain unanswered.

Protest crackdown ahead of vote

The facility, slated to be constructed close to Lake Balkhash in southeastern Kazakhstan, would cost $10 billion to $12 billion. The Kazakh government expects contractors to secure the financing.

One of the world’s biggest uranium producers, Kazakhstan sees nuclear power as a logical choice to boost energy security within the country.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s cabinet has promoted it as a way of phasing out coal-powered stations, on which Kazakhstan heavily relies.

The plan has, however, been met with criticism due to concerns over related hazards, the deadly Soviet nuclear testing legacy, and Russia’s possible involvement in the new plant construction project.

According to foreign media reports, nearly 30 activists were detained in the days that led to the referendum, while protest rallies were impeded by the government. International observers invited to monitor the process, however, reported no complaints or irregularities during the voting.

One of the most high profile naysayers, Aset Nauryzbaiev, a former top manager of the national electricity grid (KEGOS), called for the use of renewable energies such as wind and solar power, as a cheaper solution to nuclear energy.

Lethal legacy of nuclear bomb tests

The country has a painful history with the use of nuclear materials. It served as a testing ground for the Soviet Union’s nuclear program, with more than 460 tests carried out between 1949 and 1989 at the Semipalatinsk site, which closed in August 1991.

These tests made swathes of land in the northeastern Semei region uninhabitable, causing incredible damage on the health of nearby residents and devastating the local environment.

Kazakhstan was still part of the Soviet Union in 1986, at the time of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which left many with lifelong health issues as tens of thousands of Kazakhs were involved in the clean-up effort.

Russia’s recent operations at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Ukraine have hit a chord with the Kazakh society, fuelling public scepticism and concerns whether Moscow will be involved in the construction of the project.

Other than Russia’s Rosatom, China’s National Nuclear Corporation, South Korea’s Hydro & Nuclear Power, and France’s EDF, have been named as potential partners, although Kazakh officials have not confirmed which company might lead the project.

Treading on thin ice

“From my personal point of view, an international consortium consisting of global companies with the most advanced technologies should work together in Kazakhstan,” said President Tokayev after casting his vote in the referendum.

He did not provide further details, but the statement has been seen as an effort to pacify fears over Moscow’s possible involvement. But it is unclear whether the above-mentioned contractors would be open to a multinational team with Russia in it.

Bordering Russia to the north and west, and China to the east, Kazakhstan is in a delicate position when it comes to maintaining balances in the Central Asian region and beyond.

Tokayev seeks multilateral cooperation with the West, at a time when the latter has slapped sanctions against Russia over its actions in Ukraine, and amid ever-growing competition tensions with China.

One thing is for sure, no matter what the Kazakh government decides. Russia’s Rosatom is not out of work in Central Asia. A small nuclear power plant is to be built in Uzbekistan’s Jizzakh region, and the first power unit is expected to be launched in 2027.

[ Edited By Brian Maguire | Euractiv's Advocacy Lab ]