President Tokayev announces referendum on nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan

During today’s national address, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced that the referendum on nuclear power plant construction will take place on Oct. 6. 

«The nationwide referendum on the issue of nuclear power plant construction will take place on October 6 of this year. I am signing the corresponding decree today,» he said. 

According to the president, the referendum will be another vivid manifestation of a broad nationwide dialogue and implementation of the Listening State concept. By doing so, Kazakhstan is establishing a new sociopolitical culture and setting new standards for crucial state decision-making, President Tokayev added. 

On Sept. 1 of last year, the head of state announced that the decision to construct a nuclear power plant would be made through a nationwide referendum. In June 2024, he clarified that the event would take place in the fall. 

The nuclear power plant is set to be constructed in the Ulken settlement in the Almaty region, on the shore of Lake Balkhash. There are four potential contractors to implement the project, including EDF (France), CNNC (China), Rosatom (Russia) and KHNP (South Korea).