PremiumKazakhstani citizens to have hand in naming country’s first nuclear power plant

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 8. Kazakhstani citizens will become co-authors of the name of the country’s first nuclear power plant, said Almassadam Satkaliev, Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy, while talking about the contest to choose the best name for the country’s first nuclear power plant, Trend reports.

According to Satkaliev, every citizen who casts their vote for the final name of the inaugural nuclear power plant will be seen as a co-author of this monumental endeavor.

“An important prize will be the awareness of participating in the choice of the name. All citizens of Kazakhstan who vote for the option recognized as the winner will receive the status of co-author and the corresponding certificate. Everyone will be able to confidently say to their children, “I named this station,” he noted.

Satkaliev also clarified that the shortlist of name options for the first nuclear power plant will be approved in September.

“By the end of September, we plan to complete the formation of the shortlist of options. After that, a specially formed competition commission will be responsible for the final choice. Its composition will be published soon,” Satkaliev said.

At the same time, he emphasized that the contest is held only in relation to the first plant.

“For now, we have applied this experience only for the first plant; it is a pilot project. We will see how citizens perceive it and what the public reaction will be, and then decisions will be made regarding other plants. There is no special procedure yet,” he added.

On October 6, 2024, Kazakhstan conducted a pivotal referendum regarding the establishment of nuclear power facilities. An overwhelming 71.12 percent of the electorate endorsed the initiative, accompanied by a voter engagement rate of 63.66 percent.

On June 16 of this year, it was disclosed that Rosatom has been designated as the principal contractor for the development of the nation’s inaugural nuclear power facility, subsequent to the outcomes of a competitive bidding process.