Kazakhstan is to hold a nationwide referendum on the construction of the country’s first nuclear power station, Kazakh president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was quoted by local media as saying on Friday (1 September).

Tokayev made the announcement during a regular address to the nation. He said that during the 2019 election campaign he promised that decisions on the most important issues for the country would be made through referendums

The president said the proposed construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear station, likely to be in the southeast of the country, is one such “extremely important” issue warranting a referendum. A date will be announced at a later stage, he said.