- Kazakhstan will hold a national referendum on Sunday, October 6, to decide whether to build its first nuclear power plant to address the country’s energy shortage.
- Residents of Ulken, where the plant would be built, hope the project will revive the local economy. Still, concerns persist over environmental and safety risks tied to Soviet-era nuclear tests.
- The government is campaigning for public support, promising affordable electricity, while some locals remain sceptical of potential environmental harm.
The village of Ulken in Kazakhstan’s vast steppe eagerly awaits the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant. Once thriving, Ulken has declined since the collapse of the Soviet Union, but locals hope this project will revive the economy. A national referendum on Sunday will determine whether the nuclear plant, aimed at addressing Kazakhstan’s energy shortage, will move forward.
Kazakhstan, one of the world’s largest uranium producers, struggles with an energy deficit, especially in the south, home to half its 20 million citizens. The government views nuclear energy as the solution. However, Soviet-era atomic tests in the region weigh heavily on public opinion. Between 1949 and 1989, Soviet authorities conducted about 450 nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk site, exposing 1.5 million people to radiation and causing long-term environmental damage.
Despite this dark history, many locals support the nuclear project. “I’ve waited years for this construction,” said 55-year-old engineer Sergueï Tretiakov from Ulken. During the Soviet era, authorities planned to build a nuclear facility in the town. Although much of the infrastructure, including cooling basins and dikes, remains unfinished, many residents believe the plant will bring economic revival.
“We want our village to prosper,” said retiree Tatiana Vetrova. Since the Soviet collapse, Ulken’s population has shrunk dramatically, leaving many buildings abandoned. Small grocery stores dominate the local economy, and the closest hospital sits 200 kilometres away. For many, the nuclear plant represents a much-needed economic boost.
However, not everyone shares the same enthusiasm. Sixty-two-year-old retiree Jeksenkoul Koulanbaïeva worries about the project’s environmental impact. “We will lose the lake and fish. I oppose this plant,” she said, reflecting concerns that the project could cause further damage, similar to Soviet-era nuclear tests. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who initiated the referendum, acknowledged these concerns but reassured citizens about the plant’s safety measures.
The government has actively campaigned to win public support for the nuclear plant. Authorities organised nationwide information sessions, emphasising the project’s promise of affordable and continuous electricity. “I know what it’s like to light candles,” said Anna Kapoustina, a housewife in Ulken, referring to the region’s frequent power outages. Many locals see the plant as a chance to stabilise the electricity supply and spur economic growth.
If voters approve the project, Kazakhstan could reduce its reliance on external energy sources. However, the decision also raises significant challenges, as Kazakhstan must carefully balance its energy needs with its complex nuclear history. The referendum serves as a crucial moment in deciding whether the country should embrace atomic energy or continue to grapple with its past.
For residents like Tretiakov, the stakes couldn’t be higher. “The soil here is resilient, and the plant will allow electricity distribution both north and south,” he said confidently. Sunday’s vote will determine if Ulken’s future lies in nuclear energy or if lingering fears from its troubled past prevail.
Kazakhstan’s upcoming decision could reshape the country’s energy future, testing its ability to balance progress with its nuclear legacy.