Asia | Going nuclear

Kazakhstan’s referendum on nuclear energy could benefit Russia

The opposition have been barred from campaigning or locked up

An aerial view shows the village of Ulken (foreground) and the proposed nuclear power plant site.
Photograph: Getty Images
|Almaty

“Vote for a nuclear power station!” So said the slogan plastered on billboards as Kazakhstan voted on October 6th in a referendum on whether to embrace atomic energy. The government went all out to win a “yes” vote, despite the country having a devastating history as a Soviet testing ground for nuclear bombs. Officials argued that building an atomic power station is vital to ensure Kazakhstan’s energy security and reduce reliance on fossil fuels to meet net-zero targets in 2060. Nuclear energy, they pointed out, is cleaner than the coal-fired plants that currently generate 70% of power in Kazakhstan, which is the world’s largest uranium producer.

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This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Going nuclear”

From the October 12th 2024 edition

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