The President of Kazakhstan
The President of Kazakhstan Signed a Decree on the Establishment of the Atomic Energy Agency
The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has signed a decree on the establishment of an atomic energy agency in the country.
As Kazakhstan plans to build its first nuclear power plant following last year’s referendum, President Tokayev has signed a decree for the establishment of an atomic energy agency.
According to the decree published on the website of Akorda, the Presidential Press Service of Kazakhstan, the agency will be established as a state institution directly subordinate to and accountable to the President of the country.
THE COUNTRY’S ENERGY MINISTER APPOINTED AS AGENCY HEAD
The statement further noted that the agency will assume the responsibilities and authorities of the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan in the fields of uranium mining, the use of atomic energy, ensuring public protection from radiation, and the establishment and operation of the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone.
In another presidential decree, it was announced that Almassadam Satkaliyev, who had been serving as the Minister of Energy, was appointed as the head of the agency.
"THREE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS NEED TO BE BUILT"
Tokayev first announced the establishment of the agency during a speech at the National Kurultai on March 14, stating:
"The issue is not just about meeting the country’s current energy needs. It is strategically important for us to create a new energy industry that will provide a solid foundation for dynamic economic development over the coming decades.
For this reason, I believe that not one, but three nuclear power plants need to be built, ultimately leading to the creation of a fully-fledged nuclear cluster."
"A CRITICAL DECISION FOR KAZAKHSTAN'S FUTURE"
The establishment of the agency follows the national referendum held in October 2024, in which approximately 71% of Kazakh citizens voted in favor of constructing the country’s first nuclear power plant.
Tokayev, who first proposed the referendum in 2023, described it as a critical decision for Kazakhstan’s future. However, criticisms regarding the construction of the plant have also been raised.