ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 6. Voter turnout for Kazakhstan’s referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant reached 61.56% by 6:00 PM local time, Trend reports.
The country’s Central Election Commission reported that 7.5 million out of 12.24 million eligible voters have cast their ballots so far.
By region, the highest turnout was in Kyzylorda Region at 79.87%, while Almaty recorded the lowest at 22.91%.
Voting in the referendum began on October 6.
On September 2, 2024, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the date for the referendum.
In 2023, the Kazakh Ministry of Energy identified four main contenders for the nuclear power plant project: China’s CNNC, South Korea’s KHNP, France’s EDF, and Russia’s Rosatom. The project will also involve international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to provide additional oversight.