Kazakhstan Referendum Backs New Nuclear Energy

Preliminary results released by the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan, show that in Sunday's referendum there was a 63% turnout, with 71.12% of the 7.8 million people who voted answering yes to the question: "Do you agree with the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan?"

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayevannounced last year that a referendumwould be held, and has said the country was in "dire need of reliable and environmentally-friendly" sources of energy, that nuclear could"largely" meet the rapidly growing needs of the Kazakh economy, but any decision on nuclear must be taken with the support of the people.

After voting in the referendum on Sunday President Tokayev answered questions from the media, including about who would be chosen to build the new nuclear energy plant. He said: "This is not an easy problem. The government should analyse and conduct appropriate negotiations. In my opinion, an international consortium consisting of world companies with the most advanced technologies should work in Kazakhstan."

The background

Kazakhstan is the world's leading producer of uranium. Although it does not currently use nuclear energy, it is not without nuclear experience: it has three operating research reactors, and a Russian-designed BN-350 sodium-cooled fast reactor operated near Aktau for 26 years, until 1999.

Kazakhstan has been preparing for a possible nuclear power programme to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, diversify its energy mix and reduce CO2 emissions for some time. Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP), a subsidiary of Kazakhstan's Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund JSC, was set up in 2014.

As well as being designated as the owner/operator of a future plant, KNPP is tasked with pre-project work including a feasibility study to justify the need for nuclear power - carried out in 2018 - and locating a site. Although no site has been formally announced, a site at Ulken, on the shores of Lake Balkhash, has been identified as the most suitable location.

The proposed first nuclear power plant would be a large reactor but there are also options for using small modular reactors to replace retiring coal plants in the years to come. The government's target is for nuclear to produce a 5% share of the national generation mix by 2035.