A referendum on the construction of the first

nuclear power plant A nuclear power plant (NPP), also known as a nuclear power station (NPS), nuclear generating station (NGS) or atomic power station (APS) is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor. As is typical of thermal power st ...

Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a landlocked country primarily in Central Asia, with a European Kazakhstan, small portion in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the Kazakhstan–Russia border, north and west, China to th ...

took place on 6 October 2024. The initiative was aimed at reducing

fossil fuel A fossil fuel is a flammable carbon compound- or hydrocarbon-containing material formed naturally in the Earth's crust from the buried remains of prehistoric organisms (animals, plants or microplanktons), a process that occurs within geolog ...

reliance, curbing

greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities intensify the greenhouse effect. This contributes to climate change. Carbon dioxide (), from burning fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, oil, and natural gas, is the main cause of climate chan ...

and bolstering national

electricity generation Electricity generation is the process of generating electric power from sources of primary energy. For electric utility, utilities in the electric power industry, it is the stage prior to its Electricity delivery, delivery (Electric power transm ...

in light of frequent power outages in recent years. At the time of the referendum, Kazakhstan has not had any nuclear power generation capacity since 1999. President

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev (born 17 May 1953) is a Kazakhstani politician and diplomat who has served as the second president of Kazakhstan since 2019. He previously served as Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002 ...

first proposed the idea of holding a referendum in 2019, and in September 2023, he officially announced that the referendum would take place to address the nation's need to develop

nuclear power Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions to produce electricity. Nuclear power can be obtained from nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion reactions. Presently, the vast majority of electricity from nuclear power is produced by ...

, leveraging Kazakhstan's status as the world's largest

uranium Uranium is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol U and atomic number 92. It is a silvery-grey metal in the actinide series of the periodic table. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons. Ura ...

producer. In June 2024, President Tokayev announced that the referendum would be held in autumn, with the specific date determined by the Government. As the majority of voters supported the initiative, a nuclear power plant will be built in the village of Ülken, near

Lake Balkhash Lake Balkhash, also spelt Lake Balqash (, , ), is a lake in southeastern Kazakhstan, one of the largest lakes in Asia and the 15th largest in the world. It is located in the eastern part of Central Asia and sits in the Balkhash-Alakol Basin, ...

. President Tokayev has described this initiative as essential for establishing a stable electricity source in the country. However, local ecologists and residents view the proposal as potentially dangerous, citing concerns over the already unstable water levels in Lake Balkhash. Additionally, political activists criticize the possibility of Russia being selected as the builder of the plant, adding to local apprehensions.

Background

Since gaining independence, Kazakhstan has repeatedly considered constructing a

. The need for such a facility was first publicly expressed in 1997 by Minister of Science

Vladimir Shkolnik Vladimir Sergeyevich Shkolnik (; born 17 February 1949) is a Kazakhstani politician who served as the Minister of Industry and Trade in the Government of Kazakhstan

. The idea of building a new plant gained momentum in the late 1990s, after the decommissioning of the Soviet-era

BN-350 reactor The BN-350 was a Liquid metal cooled reactor, sodium-cooled, fast reactor located at the ''Mangyshlak Nuclear Power Plant'' (or ''Mangyshlak Atomic Energy Combine''), located in Aktau (formerly known as Shevchenko), Kazakhstan, on the shore of t ...

at the (MAEK) in the city of Aqtau, which had provided electricity, desalinated water from the

Caspian Sea The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, described as the List of lakes by area, world's largest lake and usually referred to as a full-fledged sea. An endorheic basin, it lies between Europe and Asia: east of the Caucasus, ...

, and

weapons-grade plutonium Weapons-grade nuclear material is any fissionable nuclear material that is pure enough to make a nuclear weapon and has properties that make it particularly suitable for nuclear weapons use. Plutonium and uranium in grades normally used in nucl ...

for Soviet nuclear weapons. The MAEK was shut down in 1999 due to concerns over aging infrastructure and

nuclear proliferation Nuclear proliferation is the spread of nuclear weapons to additional countries, particularly those not recognized as List of states with nuclear weapons, nuclear-weapon states by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonl ...

risks, especially after Kazakhstan ratified the

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT, is an international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperatio ...

in 1994. The decommissioning was supported by international partners, particularly the

International Atomic Energy Agency The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear technology, nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. It was ...

and the

United States Department of Energy The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government that oversees U.S. national energy policy and energy production, the research and development of nuclear power, the military's nuclear w ...

. Over the years, Kazakhstan has repeatedly revisited the idea of building a new nuclear power plant, with several proposed locations, including the city of Kurchatov, the village of Ülken on the shores of

, or the site of the former MAEK plant in Aqtau. Government efforts, including international cooperation with

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

, and

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

to conduct feasibility studies, have been made to support each proposal for nuclear plant projects. However, these nuclear energy proposals have faced significant opposition, emerging amidst controversy fueled by Kazakhstan's history of environmental and public health issues due to Soviet nuclear weapon testing at Semipalatinsk-21, as well as broader fears stemming from the

Chernobyl disaster On 26 April 1986, the no. 4 reactor of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, located near Pripyat, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine), exploded. With dozens of direct casualties, it is one of only ...

and the

Fukushima nuclear accident The Fukushima nuclear accident was a major nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Ōkuma, Fukushima, Japan, which began on 11 March 2011. The cause of the accident was the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, whic ...

. Additionally, concerns over Russian involvement have been heightened due to risks related to environmental safety and geopolitical interests. Development projects have repeatedly faced delays or cancellations due to indecision among key figures and attempts to negotiate lower prices. Since 2014, Kazakhstan has signed separate memorandum agreements with Russia and Japan regarding the construction of a nuclear power plant, with construction initially scheduled to begin in 2018. However, in 2015, the project was indefinitely postponed due to an electricity surplus and economic uncertainty. By 2016, it was revealed that the nuclear power plant construction would be delayed until 2023, as no electricity shortage was expected during the seven-year period. In April 2019, Russian President

Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Ru ...

proposed the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan using Russian technologies, sparking renewed discussions about nuclear energy development. This proposal faced scrutiny among Kazakh society, becoming a widescale issue during the 2018–2020 Kazakh protests. In response to the controversy, President

emphasized that decisions regarding the potential construction of a nuclear power plant could not be made without considering public opinion. Shortly after his election as president in June 2019, Tokayev acknowledged that discussions about the project were ongoing, underscoring that public consultations with citizens would be held if necessary, and indicating that a

referendum A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a Direct democracy, direct vote by the Constituency, electorate (rather than their Representative democracy, representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either bin ...

could also be conducted regarding the initiative. Kanat Bozumbayev, the Minister of Energy, confirmed that building a nuclear power plant was not in the ministry's immediate plans but might be considered within the next decade. In May 2021, Tokayev stated it was premature to dismiss nuclear energy in Kazakhstan, emphasizing its reliance in the developed world, and while the government wouldn't rush construction, it shouldn't delay either, highlighting the need for ongoing communication with citizens to address their concerns. In June 2021, Energy Minister Nurlan Nogaev reaffirmed President Tokayev's commitment to gauging public opinion on nuclear energy. He identified Ülken and Kurchatov as potential sites for a future nuclear power plant. By September 2021, at the

Eastern Economic Forum Eastern Economic Forum ( or ВЭФ) is an international forum held each year in Vladivostok, Russia, for the purpose of encouraging foreign investment in the Russian Far East. It is held each year since 2015 in September, at the Far Eastern Fe ...

, Tokayev emphasized the need to move forward, stating that it was time to "substantively consider" the issue. In June 2022, the village of Ülken was officially selected as the site for the plant after extensive evaluations.

Energy crisis

Kazakhstan's ongoing

energy crisis An energy crisis or energy shortage is any significant Bottleneck (production), bottleneck in the supply of energy resources to an economy. In literature, it often refers to one of the energy sources used at a certain time and place, in particu ...

, part of a broader regional issue affecting

Central Asia Central Asia is a region of Asia consisting of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The countries as a group are also colloquially referred to as the "-stans" as all have names ending with the Persian language, Pers ...

, was exacerbated in 2021 by a sudden surge in

cryptocurrency mining GPU mining is the use of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to "mine" proof-of-work cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin. Miners receive rewards for performing computationally intensive work, such as calculating hashes, that amend and verify transactio ...

following an influx of miners from China, leading to significant electricity shortages, power outages, and a reliance on imported power. In response to these challenges, President Tokayev described the situation as revealing "the first signs of electricity shortages" and did not rule out the possibility of making "inherently unpopular decisions" regarding the construction of a nuclear power plant. There have been suggestions to build two or three nuclear power plants with six 1.2 GWe units across Kazakhstan's Northern, Southern, and Western energy zones to address the growing nationwide energy deficit, balance regional needs, and support desalination. Energy expert Petr Svoik warns that Kazakhstan faces challenges similar to its neighbors, including underfunded infrastructure and the need for new capacity. By the 2030s, Kazakhstan will require an additional 4,000 megawatts of power, which these plants could help provide while boosting infrastructure and the economy. In 2023, the

KEGOC Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC) joint-stok company is an Astana-based state company of Kazakhstan established in 1997. General information KEGOC is the System Operator of the Unified Power System (UPS) of Kazakhstan, and ...

reported that the electricity consumption increased by 1.9% to 115.06 billion kWh, while generation stagnated at 112.82 billion kWh, resulting in a 1,519 MW deficit covered by imports from Russia. This deficit is projected to grow to 6.2 GWe by 2030. Independent expert Jaqyp Hayrushev suggests that a nuclear plant could have met the current shortfall of 1.5 GWe, similar to the consumption of regional centers like

Oral The word oral may refer to: Relating to the mouth * Relating to the mouth, the first portion of the alimentary canal that primarily receives food and liquid **Oral administration of medicines ** Oral examination (also known as an oral exam or ora ...

. With demand expected to reach 152.4 billion kWh by 2035, while aging thermal plants can only produce 135 billion kWh, the Kazakh government views nuclear energy as a viable long-term solution, supported by the country's significant uranium reserves, scientific expertise, and skilled specialists.

Carbon neutrality

In 2012, President

Nursultan Nazarbayev Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (born 6 July 1940) is a Kazakhstani politician who served as the first president of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2019. He also held the special title of Elbasy from 2010 to 2022 and chairman of the Security Council of ...

launched the Kazakhstan-2050 Strategy, aiming to position Kazakhstan among the top 30 most developed nations by 2050, with a focus on transitioning to a

low-carbon economy A low-carbon economy (LCE) is an economy which absorbs as much greenhouse gas as it emits. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to human activity are the dominant cause of observed climate change since the mid-20th century. There are many proven ...

. This strategy laid the groundwork for Kazakhstan's commitment to

sustainable energy Energy system, Energy is sustainability, sustainable if it "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Definitions of sustainable energy usually look at its effects on the e ...

, including the concept adoption for

green economy A green economy is an economy that aims at reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities, and that aims for sustainable development without environmental degradation, degrading the environment. It is closely related with ecological econ ...

in 2013, which set ambitious targets for the power sector to achieve 50% alternative and renewable energy by 2050, along with plans to integrate 1.5 GWe of nuclear energy by 2030 and 2.0 GWe by 2050. In 2016, Kazakhstan further solidified its commitment to these goals by signing the

Paris Agreement The Paris Agreement (also called the Paris Accords or Paris Climate Accords) is an international treaty on climate change that was signed in 2016. The treaty covers climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance. The Paris Agreement was ...

, pledging to reduce

and transition toward sustainable energy practices. At the Climate Ambition Summit 2020, President

outlined Kazakhstan's commitment to achieving

carbon neutrality Global net-zero emissions is reached when greenhouse gas emissions and removals due to human activities are in balance. It is often called simply net zero. ''Emissions'' can refer to all greenhouse gases or only carbon dioxide (). Reaching net ze ...

by 2060, emphasizing nuclear power's role as a low-carbon source. To diversify its

energy development Energy development is the field of activities focused on obtaining sources of energy from natural resources. These activities include the production of renewable, nuclear, and fossil fuel derived sources of energy, and for the recovery and re ...

and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, Tokayev urged the government and

Samruk-Kazyna Joint-stock company «Sovereign Wealth Fund «Samruk-Kazyna» (, ), officially known as the National Welfare Fund "Samruk-Kazyna" (), is a sovereign wealth fund and joint stock company in Kazakhstan which owns, either in whole or in part, a num ...

to explore "safe and environmentally friendly" nuclear energy options, positioning them as a viable solution for national energy demands and international climate obligations. While nuclear power has the potential to significantly reduce

air pollution Air pollution is the presence of substances in the Atmosphere of Earth, air that are harmful to humans, other living beings or the environment. Pollutants can be Gas, gases like Ground-level ozone, ozone or nitrogen oxides or small particles li ...

and

environmental degradation Environment most often refers to: __NOTOC__ * Natural environment, referring respectively to all living and non-living things occurring naturally and the physical and biological factors along with their chemical interactions that affect an organism ...

compared to fossil fuels, concerns regarding

radioactive waste Radioactive waste is a type of hazardous waste that contains radioactive material. It is a result of many activities, including nuclear medicine, nuclear research, nuclear power generation, nuclear decommissioning, rare-earth mining, and nuclear ...

management present critical challenges for safe implementation. By integrating nuclear power into its energy strategy, Kazakhstan aims to lower its

carbon footprint A carbon footprint (or greenhouse gas footprint) is a calculated value or index that makes it possible to compare the total amount of greenhouse gases that an activity, product, company or country Greenhouse gas emissions, adds to the atmospher ...

, enhance

energy security Energy security is the association between national security and the availability of natural resources for energy consumption (as opposed to household energy insecurity). Access to cheaper energy has become essential to the functioning of modern ...

, and contribute to global climate change efforts, aligning its green policies with the broader goals of the Paris Agreement.

Prelude

Speculations about holding a referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant arose after President Tokayev's 2019 proposal, as the government continued moving forward with the project. Political scientist Dimaş Äljanov expressed skepticism about the fairness of a potential referendum on the nuclear power plant, arguing that without proper mechanisms, the voting results could be falsified in favor of the Kazakh government's interests, especially given the general public's negative sentiment toward the authorities. In April 2023, Energy Minister Almasadam Sätqaliev, responding to journalists' inquiries about the possibility of a referendum, cited the need for one to gauge majority support for the project, asserting that if the majority votes against the proposal, the plant will not be built. However, in June 2023, Vice Minister of Energy Jandos Nurmaganbetov ruled out the possibility of a referendum on the construction of the nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan. On 1 September 2023, President Tokayev announced during his State of the Nation Address that a nationwide referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant will take place, with specific voting date to be determined later, highlighting its significance for Kazakhstan's future as the largest uranium producer in the world. The

Ministry of Energy A ministry of energy or department of energy is a government department in some countries that typically oversees the production of fuel and electricity; in the United States, however, it manages nuclear weapons development and conducts energy-rela ...

stated that it, along with other government agencies, parliamentary deputies, industry experts, and public activists, will work out the details of the referendum and provide the public with comprehensive information. Energy Minister Almasadam Sätqaliev added that the referendum aims to encourage Kazakhstanis to express their views on the need for technological development, while the government will provide solutions that align with societal needs. Vice Minister of Energy Nurmaganbetov stated that the decision will be up to Tokayev. At the XV Kazenergy Eurasian Forum in October 2023, Energy Minister Almasadam Sätqaliev discussed plans for a referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant, stating that the Ministry of Energy is ready to provide expert support and analytics as required by the constitutional law.

Referendum announcement

On 27 June 2024, at a speech during an awarding ceremony, President Tokayev announced, that the referendum will take place in the autumn of 2024. In the building of the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

, Deputy Minister of Energy Sūñğat Esimhanov talked about the questions that will be asked on the referendum. According to him, the people will be asked only one thing, whether they support or are against the building of a nuclear power plant. However he also noted that this was "his opinion" and the details will be worked out by the

Government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a State (polity), state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive (government), execu ...

. During his annual Address to the People, Tokayev announced on 2 September that the referendum will be held on 6 October. The next day, he signed the corresponding order, which also included the ballot question itself:

Negotiations with energy providers

The Ministry of Energy reviewed reactor technologies from various international companies before compiling a shortlist in June 2022. After evaluating 13 reactor designs from six companies—

NuScale Power NuScale Power Corporation is a publicly traded American company that designs and markets small modular reactors (SMRs). It is headquartered in Tigard, Oregon. The company's VOYGR power plant, which uses 50 MWe modules and scales to 12 modules ( ...

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) is a provider of advanced reactors and nuclear services. It is headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, United States. Established in June 2007, GEH is a nuclear alliance created by General Electric and Hitach ...

(GEH),

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP; ) is a subsidiary of the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). It operates large nuclear and hydroelectric plants in South Korea, which are responsible for about 31.56 percent of the country's electric power ...

(KHNP),

China National Nuclear Corporation The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC; ) is a state-owned enterprise founded in 1955 in Beijing. CNNC's president and vice-president are appointed by the Premier of the People's Republic of China. CNNC oversees all aspects of China's civ ...

(CNNC), Russian

Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (commonly referred to as Rosatom rus, Росатом, p=rosˈatəm}), also known as Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation, (), or Rosatom State Corporation, is a Russian State corporation (Russia), sta ...

, and French

Électricité de France Électricité de France SA (; ), commonly known as EDF, is a French multinational corporation, multinational electric utility company owned by the government of France. Headquartered in Paris, with €139.7 billion in sales in 2023, EDF ope ...

(EDF)—the ministry selected KHNP, CNNC, Rosatom, and EDF as potential suppliers. The American and Japanese companies, NuScale Power and GEH, were excluded due to their limited experience with low-power reactors, with focus instead being on suppliers with proven high-power reactor technologies. The Kazakh government explored international practices in nuclear power plant construction by examining the experiences of countries with operational facilities. The Kazakh delegation toured nuclear power plants in South Korea, signed a memorandum of understanding with KHNP, and sent specialists to France to study their facilities. They also toured the Rosatom's commissioning of

Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant () is a large nuclear power plant in Turkey under construction in Akkuyu, Büyükeceli, Mersin Province. It is expected to generate around 10% of the country's electricity when completed. The official launch cer ...

in Turkey and the Paks Nuclear Power Plant in Hungary, hosted by

General Electric General Electric Company (GE) was an American Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1892, incorporated in the New York (state), state of New York and headquartered in Boston. Over the year ...

. In August 2022, Energy Minister Bolat Aqşolaqov announced that the technology operator for Kazakhstan's nuclear power plant would be selected by late 2022 or early 2023. In February 2023, it was revealed that the decision would be made sometime later that year.

chairman Nurlan Jaqypov did not rule out Rosatom's strong chances of winning the bid while also expressing concerns about various difficulties in implementing the project. However,

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

discussions on potential sanctions against Russia's nuclear industry complicated Kazakhstan's plans to cooperate with Rosatom, leading to delays in selecting a foreign partner. In August 2023, the Ministry of Energy compiled a shortlist of potential reactor technologies, which included the CNNC's HPR-1000 reactor, the KHNP's

APR-1400 The APR-1400 (for Advanced Power Reactor 1400 Megawatt, MW electricity) is an advanced Pressurized water reactor, pressurized water nuclear reactor designed by the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). Originally known as the Korean Ne ...

reactor, Rosatom's

VVER-1200 The water-water energetic reactor (WWER), or VVER (from ) is a series of pressurized water reactor designs originally developed in the Soviet Union, and now Russia, by OKB Gidropress. The idea of such a reactor was proposed at the Kurchatov Insti ...

and VVER-1000 reactors, and EDF's EPR-1200 reactor. Energy Minister Almasadam Sätqaliev stated that the ministry was also evaluating proposals from NuScale Power and GEH for constructing small modular reactors, with the final decision on selecting a foreign proposal to be made only after the referendum.

Public hearings

The Kazakh government engaged in public deliberations regarding the proposed construction of the Ülken Nuclear Power Plant, emphasizing careful consideration over haste in making their decision. In August 2024, 20 different official hearings on the potential nuclear power plant were held publicly in 20 different cities. The last one, held in

Astana Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,423,726 within the city limits, it is the second-largest in the country after Almaty, which had been the capital until 1997. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim (river), Ishim ...

, took place on 20 August.

Radio Free Europe Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a media organization broadcasting news and analyses in 27 languages to 23 countries across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. Headquartered in Prague since 1995, RFE/RL ...

criticised the environment of the hearings, reporting that opposition voices were silenced, with microphones turned off, and dissenters barred from participating. The official hearing event in

was attended by Mäjilis deputies and Amanat party officials, who expressed support for the nuclear plant construction. Prominent ecologist, Mels Eleusizov, opposed the idea citing danger risks. Political activist Nağyzhan Töleubaev and other like-minded people complained that the talks were biased and undemocratic. Before the Semey talks, a local activist and reporter Eldos Dosanov was detained by the police.

Conduct

Elections in Kazakhstan are organized by various election commissions, with the

Central Election Commission An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...

(CEC) serving as the Central Referendum Commission (CRC). Following President Tokayev's referendum announcement, CEC member Şavkat Ötemisov announced in September 2023 that the CEC was ready to conduct the referendum as early that year if the date was announced, confirming that all necessary preparations were in place. On 5 July 2024, President Tokayev signed a series of amendments to constitutional laws adopted by the

Parliament of Kazakhstan The Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the bicameral legislature of Kazakhstan, consisting of the upper house, the Senate, and the lower house, the Mäjilis. Both chambers conduct legislative sessions at the Parliament House in the cap ...

, including the Constitutional Law "On the Republican Referendum," which clarified the rights and responsibilities of national and international observers and foreign media, areas previously unaddressed. The amendments also provided guidelines for media coverage, the conduct of public opinion polls during the referendum, and introduced new rules for referendum commission members, including their remuneration and the process for appealing decisions. According to Şavkat Ötemisov, the amendments aim to enhance transparency, improve organization, and align with

OSCE The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is a regional security-oriented intergovernmental organization comprising member states in Europe, North America, and Asia. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, the pr ...

/ ODIHR recommendations.

Referendum funding

In September 2023, Minister of Finance Erulan Jamaubaev stated that the costs of the nuclear power referendum could potentially be lower than that of the 2022 constitutional referendum, as new methods might be applied, but he also noted that estimating the expenses would be impossible until the voting date is determined. After the referendum date was announced in September 2024, CEC member Sabila Mustafina estimated the cost of the referendum to be 15.5 billion tenge, including expenses for organizing 78 foreign polling stations, with 71% allocated to commission member salaries, and CEC chairman

Nurlan Äbdirov Nūrlan Mäjitūly Äbdırov (; born 12 January 1961) is a Kazakh politician who is the chairman of the Central Election Commission (Kazakhstan), Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan. Prior to that, he was the Deputy Chairman of the Senate o ...

stated that any submitted leftover funds would be returned as surplus to the state budget.

Voter registration

By 1 July and 1 January every year, information on voters and the boundaries of polling stations are submitted by the local executive bodies (akimats) in electronic form to their territorial election commissions, which ensure the verification and submission of information to the higher election commissions. According to the CEC, as of 1 July 2024, approximately 12,176,968 voters were registered in Kazakhstan; however, CEC deputy chairman Konstantin Petrov, clarified that this figure was provisional and not final. Voter registration in Kazakhstan is conducted by a local executive body from the moment of announcement or appointment of referendum and are compiled within the voter list, which are based on place of residence in the territory of the given

electoral precinct A precinct or voting district (U.S. terms), polling district (UK term) or polling division (Canadian term), constituency(Indian term)is a subdivision of an electoral district, typically a contiguous area within which all electors go to a single ...

. The voter list for each polling station is approved by the

akim An ''akim'' (, , әкімдер / ''äkimder''; ; , ) is the head of a local government in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. ''Akim'' is derived from the Arabic word '' hakim'', which means "ruler" or "governor". Definitions Kazakhstan In Kazakhs ...

(local head), who issues an ordinance twenty days (15 September 2024) before the election and delivering to referendum polling stations and electronic version to the CRC. Precinct referendum commissions notified citizens of the voting time and location at least ten days (from 26 September 2024), before voting day, while local executive bodies offered online services and internet resources to help citizens verify their inclusion on voter lists and find their polling stations.

Opinion polls

As of September 2024, only two opinion polls on the issue are known to have been made. One of them, made by the

Konrad Adenauer Foundation The Konrad Adenauer Foundation ('' German: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V.; Abbreviation: KAS'') is a German political party foundation associated with but independent of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The foundation's head ...

was conducted in the autumn of 2023, and the other one was made by the government-affiliated Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) under the

President of Kazakhstan The president of Kazakhstan, officially the president of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the executive head of state of the Kazakhstan and the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan. As the highest-ranking official ...

. On 27 August 2024, Minister of Energetics of Kazakhstan, Almasadam Sätqaliev alleged that there was an unspecified group and political campaign trying to change the public opinion on the issue to be against the construction. When asked for specifics, Sätqaliev claimed that the ministry already contacted the corresponding law enforcement agencies, and is planning to file an official complaint.

Results

Preliminary results was released on 7 October 2024.

Notes

References

{{Kazakhstani elections

Nuclear power referendum Referendums in Kazakhstan Nuclear power in Kazakhstan Nuclear power referendums