Kazakhstan has Final Referendum on the Nuclear Power Plant Construction

On October 6th, a significant event took place in Kazakhstan with the final referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP) at 8:00 PM Tashkent time. According to preliminary data from the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan, there was an election turnout of 63.87%.

Notably, the highest turnout was in Kyzylorda Oblast at 82.48%, indicating strong puplic engagement in the region, while the lowest was in Almaty at 25.39%, suggesting the need for increased awareness and participation.

At 14:00, the Central Election Commission officially recognised the referendum, with over 51.7% of voters participating, reflecting a significant level of public involvement.

However, at 16:40, two voting violations incidents were reported in the country. The first involved an individual conducting an illegal opinion poll, indicating the necessity for strict adherence to electoral regulations. The second was related to illegal campaigning, highlighting the importance of maintaining fair and transparent electoral processes.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced that Astana plans to involve a consortium of foreign companies in the construction of the power plant, showing a commitment to international collaboration and expertise in this critical endeavor.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbek specialists for the small nuclear power plant in Jizzak will receive training in Russia’s Obninsk, signifying a positive step towards capacity-building and knowledge exchange in the region.