Voters in Kazakhstan reportedly have permitted a plan that will convey the nation its first nuclear energy plant. Election officers mentioned 70% of voters in a referendum held October 6 help the technique promoted by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who has mentioned nuclear energy is a solution to transfer the nation away from reliance on coal-fired technology.
Tokayev’s plan has confronted criticism due to fears Russia can be concerned within the improvement of nuclear energy in Kazakhstan. Reviews have mentioned that China, France, Russia, and South Korea are international locations whose expertise and experience is being thought-about for improvement of a nuclear facility. Tokayev on Sunday mentioned he most popular an “worldwide consortium made up of worldwide firms geared up with cutting-edge applied sciences.”
The president has mentioned that Kazakhstan, as one of many world’s largest producers of uranium, must complement its vitality provide with nuclear energy to make sure reliability of electrical energy. The previous Soviet republic, although, doesn’t enrich its uranium to some extent the place it may be used as nuclear gas. The nation does have three working analysis reactors.
“So as to not stay on the sidelines of worldwide progress, we should use our aggressive benefits,” Tokayev mentioned previous to Sunday’s vote, which requested the query: “Do you agree with the development of a nuclear energy plant in Kazakhstan?” The nation, which is attempting to develop its use of wind and solar energy and likewise makes use of hydropower, has lengthy relied on coal for many of its technology. The nation obtained about half of its energy from coal-fired crops in 2023, in response to authorities information.
Tokayev has beforehand mentioned that Kazakhstan is in “dire want of dependable and environmentally-friendly” vitality. The president, assembly with media after Sunday’s vote, mentioned, “This isn’t a simple drawback. The federal government ought to analyse and conduct acceptable negotiations. In my view, a global consortium consisting of world firms with essentially the most superior applied sciences ought to work in Kazakhstan.”
Pure Fuel and Renewables
Pure gas-fired crops account for a few 27% share of electrical energy manufacturing. Hydropower is the biggest renewable useful resource, offering about 8% of the ability provide, with wind and photo voltaic at about 5%.
Kazakhstan additionally imports electrical energy, principally from Russia.
Cupboard officers within the Kazakhstan authorities have estimated {that a} nuclear energy plant could possibly be constructed within the nation for between $10 billion and $12 billion. Officers have mentioned they anticipate the venture builders would finance development. The federal government has mentioned a plant can be sited close to the sparsely populated village of Ulken on the shores of Lake Balkhash, within the southeast area of the nation.
Issues about Russian involvement stem from years of Soviet nuclear weapons assessments within the nation, which left these areas uninhabitable. Staff from Kazakhstan additionally had been concerned within the cleanup of the Chernobyl nuclear web site after the 1986 catastrophe there, which reportedly left many with well being points.
Tokayev, who was elected president in 2019, has mentioned a nuclear energy plant can be “the largest venture within the historical past of impartial Kazakhstan.” The nation declared independence from the previous Soviet Union in 1991.
—Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER (@POWERmagazine).
