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Kazakhstan votes on whether to construct very first nuclear plant

Kazakhstan votes in a. referendum on Sunday on whether to develop its very first nuclear power. plant, an idea promoted by President KassymJomart Tokayev's. government as the Central Asian country looks for to phase out. contaminating coal plants.

The plan, however, has dealt with public criticism due to the fact that of its. threats, the Soviet nuclear testing legacy, and fears that. Russia will be associated with the task.

I have come to the conclusion that the decision to build. the nuclear power plant, and to develop it with (Russian state. nuclear firm) Rosatom, has actually already been made in (Tokayev's. office) and individuals of Kazakhstan are being welcomed to. polling stations as 'notaries' to confirm this decision. with their votes, popular blog writer Vadim Boreiko wrote.

Regardless of having large natural gas reserves, the Central. Asian nation of 20 million relies mostly on coal-powered plants. for its electrical power needs, supplemented by some hydroelectric. plants and the growing renewable resource sector.

Kazakhstan is currently importing electric power, primarily from. Russia, as its facilities, a number of which are aged, struggle to. fulfill domestic need. And coal is usually regarded as the most. polluting energy source.

SOVIET TRADITION

The government says a reliable energy supply is required to. supplement renewable sources such as solar and wind power, and,. since Kazakhstan is one of the world's most significant uranium. manufacturers, nuclear power is a rational choice.

In order not to remain on the sidelines of global progress,. we should utilize our competitive benefits, Tokayev said days. before the vote.

The former Soviet republic, nevertheless, does not enrich uranium. to the point where it can be used as fuel. The cabinet quotes. that a nuclear power plant would cost $10 billion-$ 12 billion to. build.

Critics say the same goal can be attained with gas-powered. plants which, although they still use nonrenewable fuel source, are much less. polluting than coal plants and come with less danger.

Kazakhstan belonged to the Soviet Union in 1986 when the. Chornobyl nuclear disaster happened, and tens of thousands of. Kazakhs participated in the subsequent clean-up operation which. left lots of with life time health issues.

The nation was also the website of hundreds of Soviet nuclear. weapon tests which have actually made large swathes of land. uninhabitable, caused numerous diseases amongst individuals in close-by. areas, and have actually caused many individuals to become distrustful of. anything nuclear.

One must not always look back, keep in mind the bad things,. and grumble, Tokayev stated of such belief.

(source: Reuters)