President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree on Tuesday to create a new state agency for atomic energy, marking a key step in Kazakhstan’s plan to build its first nuclear power plant.

The agency, which will be directly subordinate to the president, is intended to consolidate functions currently handled by the Kazakh Energy Ministry related to subsoil use, including uranium mining, the utilization of atomic energy, ensuring public safety from radiation, and the development and operation of the Semipalatinsk nuclear safety zone.

The decree, published on the presidential press service website Akorda, also announced the appointment of Almassadam Satkaliyev as the agency’s head.

Satkaliyev, who previously served as Kazakhstan’s energy minister from April 2023, is expected to steer the agency as part of a broader strategy to modernize the nation’s energy sector.

President Tokayev first introduced the initiative during an address to the National Kurultai on March 14, emphasizing that the move is not merely about meeting current energy needs but is a strategic investment in the country’s economic future.

“It is strategically important for us to create a new energy industry that will provide a solid foundation for dynamic economic development for decades to come,” Tokayev said.

He further outlined plans to eventually build not one, but three nuclear power plants to form a comprehensive nuclear cluster.

The agency’s establishment follows a 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.

While the decision was hailed by supporters as a forward-looking move for energy independence and economic growth, critics have raised concerns about the project’s implications, particularly given the legacy of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, which was used for over 450 tests during the Soviet era and left a lasting impact on public perception.

The new agency is expected to play a pivotal role in overseeing the safe and sustainable development of nuclear energy in Kazakhstan, aligning with the country’s long-term goals for technological advancement and economic diversification under President Tokayev’s administration.

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