Kazakhstan Referendum On Nuclear Energy

Construction of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site began in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic in 1947. The test site is located on the border of the Semipalatinsk (now Abay), Pavlodar, and Karaganda regions, 130 kilometers northwest of Semipalatinsk (now Semey), on the left bank of the Irtysh River. On its territory is the previously closed city of Kurchatov, renamed as such in honor of Soviet-era physicist, Igor Kurchatov. The first nuclear weapons test held in the Soviet Union was conducted at this site on August 29, 1949. The power of the bomb totaled 22 kilotons. From 1949 to 1989, at least 468 nuclear tests were conducted at the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. The long-term operation of this site and its negative impact on residents’ health and the surrounding environment help to explain the fear of nuclear energy in Kazakhstan. Two million people were affected across 300 square kilometers; with all agriculture banned, a vast swathe of land still remains off-limits. Pregnancies are still screened for possible termination, with 6% of babies born “polygon” (the name for the “closed zone”.)

The first uranium deposit in Kazakhstan, the Kurdai deposit, was discovered in 1953. A national company, NAC Kazatomprom, was established in 1997 to manage uranium extraction and the nuclear industries. In 2009, Kazakhstan took first place in uranium production worldwide, and continues to maintain its position in the market. Today, the republic  produces about 40% of the world’s uranium. In addition, Kazakhstan has the world’s second-largest proven uranium reserves, with a 14% share.

In 1957, the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Kazakh SSR Academy of Sciences was founded near Almaty (then Alma-Ata) to conduct research in the field of nuclear and solid-state physics. Today, the Institute owns eight experimental facilities: the VVR-K research reactor, a “Критический стенд” lit. “critical stand,” and six charged particle gas pedal complexes.

The VVR-K reactor (pool type thermal reactor) was launched in 1967 at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Kazakh SSR Academy of Sciences. The reactor was shut down in the late 1980s after the Chernobyl disaster and the earthquake in Spitak (Armenia); it was restarted in 1997, and the complex underwent safety and seismic reinforcement modernization. 

In 1972, a unique fast neutron reactor BN-350 was launched in Aktau (then Shevchenko) at the Mangistau Atomic Energy Combine (MAEC). The reactor provided the Mangistau Peninsula with electricity and heat, and supported the operation of desalination plants taking seawater from the Caspian Sea. 

The most destructive accident in the history of the nuclear industry occurred on April 26, 1986 at Unit 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant located 100 km to the north of Kiev, in Ukraine. The release of radioactive material led to numerous immediate and long term consequences for the public and the environment. Consequently, the event imposed substantial psycho-social and economic impacts on the population in Kazakhstan, which in turn has influenced a negative stand towards the nuclear industry.

On August 29, 1991, Kazakhstan’s first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, closed the Semipalatinsk test site. Prior to this, citizens had held rallies protesting against nuclear testing and its development. By 1994, Kazakhstan had voluntarily relinquished its part of the USSR’s nuclear arsenal.

On May 15, 1992, the National Nuclear Center in the city of Kurchatov was established based on the complex of the former Semipalatinsk test site. The Center deals with eliminating the consequences of nuclear tests and also conducts active and multidisciplinary scientific activities on the remaining research reactors in Kurchatov. Scientific research occurs internationally and touches upon safety technologies, the space program, and more.

The neutron reactor at the Mangistau Atomic Energy Combine (MAEC) was decommissioned in 1999. Since then, MAEC has been running on gas, and Mangistau, which has almost no fresh water resources, has almost constantly experienced severe water and electricity shortages. Neighboring regions are also suffering.

Kazakhstan currently experiences an acute shortage of electricity. According to the Ministry of Energy, in 2024, electricity consumption will total 120.6 billion kWh, while production will total 118.3 billion kWh, leaving a deficit of just under 2.4 billion kWh. In 2025, this figure will rise to 3.3 billion kWh, accounting for consumption at 125.1 billion kWh, and production at 121.8 billion kWh. The situation will be particularly challenging in the south, where the population is rapidly growing. The consumption level in the Southern Zone is much higher than the production level, 27.7 billion kWh against 15.3 billion kWh. Thus, the deficit is equal to 12.4 billion kWh. Currently, Kazakhstan is forced to buy electricity from Russia.

In July 2023, power unit No. 1 at the MAEC thermal power plant was shut down. This left part of the city of Atyrau without electricity and also caused an emergency at the Atyrau Refinery, where the refinery’s process units were stopped. Due to the power outage at MAEC, oil production was wholly or partially suspended at the fields of JSC Ozenmunaigas, JSC Mangistaumunaigas, JSC Karazhanbasmunai, and JSC Embamunaigas in the Mangistau and Atyrau regions.

On September 1, 2023, President Tokayev announced during his annual address to the nation that a popular vote on the need to build a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan would be held. The referendum will take place on October 6, 2024.