Kazakhstan is preparing to host a nationwide referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant, expected to cost around 15.5 billion tenge ($32.1 million). Sabila Mustafina, Secretary of the Central Election Commission, disclosed this information during a recent commission meeting.
The referendum will take place across Kazakhstan, with over 10,000 voting stations nationally and an additional 78 stations in 63 countries worldwide. The timeline for the referendum process includes various stages from the issuance of the decree on September 2 to the final publication of results in the media on October 12.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the referendum on September 1, 2023, prompting the country to consider technology suppliers for the plant. Companies like China’s CNNC, South Korea’s KHNP, France’s EDF, and Russia’s Rosatom are in the running to provide technology for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant.
The upcoming referendum marks a significant moment for Kazakhstan’s energy future, as the country evaluates the potential construction and operation of a nuclear power facility.