Exit polls show Kazakhs support construction of nuclear power plants

According to the results of three exit polls, approximately 70 percent of Kazakhstanis voted for in the nationwide referendum held on October 6 in support of the nuclear power plant construction project, while about 30 percent voted against, the Kazakh bureau of Report informs.

The Central Referendum Commission will soon announce the voting results. The issue of nuclear power plant construction is very sensitive for the country's citizens, given the tragic experience of the Semipalatinsk test site, the consequences of which Kazakhstanis still suffer from.

According to the country's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in case of a positive referendum outcome, the government should analyze and negotiate who will build the nuclear power plant. In his opinion, it should be an international consortium. Recall that companies from China, South Korea, France, and Russia were shortlisted for the nuclear power plant construction project in Kazakhstan.

In an interview with Report, well-known Kazakh energy expert Asset Nauryzbayev, commenting on the idea of creating an international consortium, stated that it would most likely be a consortium with Rosatom's participation, which will provide its reactor for the nuclear power plant, while turbines and other equipment will come from China. "It is unlikely that European companies will join this consortium," Nauryzbayev believes.

Creating an international consortium for nuclear power plant construction is an option that carries several risks, another Kazakh expert, Rashid Zhaksylykov, told Report in an interview. "In case of creating an international consortium, Kazakhstan will have no one to hold accountable in case of an emergency, as responsibility will be diffused. Nuclear power plant construction is a project of special danger and responsibility. I'm not sure that Western companies will take such a step and participate in an international consortium," Rashid Zhaksylykov concluded.

Kazakh expert Talgat Kaliyev expressed the opposite opinion in an interview with Report. He stated that the idea of creating international consortiums for important and large projects in Kazakhstan is not new and already has successful experience. As an example, he cited such international consortiums as NCOC (North Caspian Operating Company), which is developing the giant Kashagan oil and gas field, or CPC (Caspian Pipeline Consortium) for implementing the project of the longest pipeline from Kazakhstan through Russia to the Black Sea port.

On October 6, a referendum on nuclear power plant construction was held in Kazakhstan. Voter turnout was 67.3%.