Kazakhs approve plan for first N-plant

Kazakhstan has approved a plan to build its first nuclear power station in a referendum, overcoming lingering resentment over massive radiation exposure from Soviet-era nuclear tests.

The Central Asian country is the world's largest producer of uranium and has massive oil reserves but it suffers from chronic energy shortages.

The "Yes" vote won 71.12 percent in Sunday's referendum and the turnout was 63.66 percent, the Kazakh electoral commission said Monday. China, France, Russia and South Korea are in the running to build the new power station, which is to be located on the shores of Lake Balkhash.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who was elected in 2019, says the plant would be "the biggest project in the history of independent Kazakhstan".

Tokayev indicated Sunday that he preferred an "international consortium made up of global companies equipped with cutting-edge technologies".

The "Yes" camp has dominated throughout the campaign and opponents concerned about potential accidents struggled to make themselves heard.