Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that if citizens approve the construction of a nuclear power plant in a referendum, its construction and operation should be entrusted to an international consortium. However, there is an opinion that this entails great risks for the country, writes socialism.kz.
As you know, in the national referendum on this issue, held in Kazakhstan on October 6, the supporters of the nuclear power plant won. According to preliminary data, 72.3% of the participants in the referendum voted in favor of its construction and 27.7% against.
“But the reaction of the authorities even before the end of the vote once again showed the duality and “multi-vector” character of this event, since President Tokayev proposed transferring the construction of the nuclear power plant to a certain “international consortium.” . – write the post.
The authors add that the proposal by the President of Kazakhstan to entrust the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant to an international consortium raises many questions and requires more detailed analysis.
“First of all, it is necessary to understand that an “international consortium” is not simply a group of companies united by common interests. We are talking about a complex structure in which companies with different levels of influence, different technologies and, most importantly, potentially conflicting interests may be involved. The question of trust in such a consortium, especially in the context of the construction of nuclear power plants, becomes critical. We must not forget that a nuclear power plant is not just an infrastructure facility, but a source of potential danger. Choosing the wrong contractor, design errors or poor construction quality can have catastrophic consequences similar to those of the Chernobyl or Fukushima tragedies.” – also writes the post.
Thus, the authors note, the question of choosing an international consortium for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan requires careful study and in-depth analysis of the following key aspects.
“In particular, there are factors that could destabilize the situation in the future, because they are a copy of the colonial system in the extractive sector. Blindly copying this scheme in the energy sector can have the opposite effect.” – says the publication.
The authors note that there are several risks in making this decision.
Political risks: A consortium can be made up of companies representing countries with different political interests. There may be situations where political disagreements between states can negatively affect the construction and operation of nuclear power plants.
Economic risks: Consortium members may have different financial capabilities, which may lead to imbalances and inefficiencies. In addition, it is necessary to analyze the level of corruption in participating companies to eliminate abuses.
Technological risks: There may be companies in a consortium with different technologies that may not be compatible or meet security requirements. It is also important to take into account the level of competence of companies in the construction and operation of nuclear power plants.
Environmental risks: The choice of the consortium should take into account not only economic and technical aspects, but also environmental ones. It is necessary to analyze to what extent the companies included in the consortium are environmentally responsible and are willing to minimize the negative impact of nuclear power plants on the environment.
“In light of all these risks, Tokayev’s proposal may seem naive. The construction of a nuclear power plant is a strategic project that must be as transparent and controllable as possible. Entrusting such an important project to an international consortium made up of companies with different interests can have unpredictable consequences. It is important to remember that safety and environmental responsibility must come first. Instead of “sitting on several chairs” and seeking compromises, the Kazakh government should carefully weigh the pros and cons and make an informed decision that meets the country’s interests. This means the need to conduct an in-depth analysis of proposals from different companies, select the most competent and responsible contractor, formulate clear requirements for the design, construction and operation of nuclear power plants and create a system for monitoring the implementation of all stages. . of the project”, – concludes the publication.
