KEY POINTS
- Kazakhstan votes on building a nuclear power plant amid energy deficits.
- Concerns rise over potential dependence on Russia and China for nuclear technology.
- The project could help address the country’s growing power gap.
Kazakhstan, the world’s leading uranium producer, is set to hold a referendum on Sunday to determine whether the nation should move forward with building a nuclear power plant.
The vote comes as the country grapples with energy deficits and considers the risks of relying on Russia and China for nuclear technology.
Energy crisis prompts nuclear debate
Although Kazakhstan has vast uranium resources, the nation has not used nuclear power since shutting down its only nuclear plant in 1999.
A significant power deficit in 2023, triggered by outdated infrastructure and the energy-intensive crypto mining industry, has made energy issues more pressing. However, the deficit resulted in declines in oil output and constraints on industrial growth.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for the referendum as a way to show public support for nuclear energy. His administration remains cautious about public unrest after deadly riots rocked the country in 2022. Furthermore, the government’s concern for stability is evident as it seeks to make a decision on energy diversification with public backing.
Tokayev stressed the importance of the project, calling it the biggest initiative since Kazakhstan’s independence from the Soviet Union. “This plant will ensure sustainable progress for our country for decades to come,” he said in a speech to regional lawmakers.
Fears of dependence on foreign powers
The potential nuclear project has generated mixed feelings among voters. While some see it as a necessary step to address the growing energy deficit, others worry it could increase Kazakhstan’s dependence on Russia and China, both of whom are in the running to provide the technology for the plant.
China National Nuclear Corp, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Russia’s Rosatom Corp, and Electricite de France SA are among the potential partners for the project, according to the Energy Ministry.
Concerns over corruption affecting construction standards and the risk of environmental damage have also been expressed by voters. Moreover, Kazakhstan was the site of Soviet nuclear bomb tests, and memories of that era contribute to the public’s hesitation about reintroducing nuclear power.
According to Mining.com, Kazakhstan aims to increase its power generation to 26.5 gigawatts by 2035, with 2.4 gigawatts coming from nuclear energy. Currently, the country has a power capacity of 20.4 gigawatts, and officials hope that nuclear energy will help bridge the growing power gap.
Public opinion could shape decision
The referendum is seen as an attempt by the Tokayev administration to transfer the responsibility for the decision to the people, allowing the government to gauge public sentiment on a controversial issue.
According to Dosym Satpayev, director of the Almaty-based Risk Assessment Group, the authorities fear the possibility of protests, given the sensitive nature of nuclear energy in the region.
Kazakhstan had a 1.5 gigawatt power deficit last winter, forcing it to rely on electricity imports from Russia to meet domestic demand. Analysts like George Voloshin of ACAMS point out that regardless of whether the nuclear plant gets built, Kazakhstan’s aging energy infrastructure, mostly constructed during the Soviet era, will continue to pose challenges without significant investments.
