President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received a report on the key results and development plans for the country’s fuel and energy sector, as well as updates on the implementation of major oil, gas, and energy projects, Nur.kz reports.
Tokayev was briefed on the progress of the heating season and the operation of major heat and power supply facilities. He instructed that special attention be paid to the smooth conduct of the heating season and the implementation of energy infrastructure modernization projects.
The President emphasized the importance of accelerating the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Kazakhstan.
Construction of a Nuclear Power Plant in Kazakhstan
In 2019, it was announced that a nuclear power plant was planned for construction in the Almaty region, with the village of Ulken identified as the proposed location. By the end of 2021, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy, Almasadam Satkaliyev, confirmed that the plant might indeed be situated in this village.
In June 2022, the Ministry of Energy revealed that a shortlist of four suppliers had been compiled after evaluating their technologies for the country’s first NPP. Satkaliyev stated that the project would not proceed without public support.
In November 2023, the Minister of Energy announced the timeline for selecting the company to construct the plant. By December, an estimated budget for the construction of Kazakhstan’s first NPP was disclosed.
Later, President Tokayev declared that a referendum would be held to decide whether to build the nuclear power plant. The vote took place on October 6 of this year, asking citizens: “Do you agree with the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan?” Voters marked their choice with either "yes" or "no."
According to Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission, voter turnout was 63.87%, with over 7.8 million participants. Of these, 71.12% (5,561,937 voters) supported the proposal, while 2,045,271 voted against it.
Following the referendum, Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar discussed the process of selecting a contractor for the NPP. Vice Minister of National Economy Arman Kasenov noted that the plant could be built on a deferred payment basis.
In early November, Kazakhstan began negotiations with potential suppliers for the NPP construction. A few weeks ago, a Kazakh delegation, led by the Minister of Energy, held talks with leading nuclear industry organizations in France during a working visit.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
December 23, 2024