ASTANA — More than half of Kazakh voters turned out on Sunday to cast their ballots in a nationwide referendum on the construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant. B

y 2 p.m. local time, voter turnout had reached 51.77%, with over 6.3 million citizens participating, according to the Central Election Commission (OSK).

Kazakhstan's 10,249 polling stations were open as of 7 a.m. for the country’s 12.2 million registered voters, with 74 additional stations established in diplomatic missions across 59 countries.

Voting will continue until 8 p.m. local time. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, speaking after casting his vote in the capital, Astana, emphasized the importance of the referendum as a "very effective mechanism of direct democracy," affirming that the state will abide by the people’s decision.

When questioned about potential constructors of the plant, should the proposal be approved, Tokayev suggested an international consortium of global companies with advanced technologies.

The referendum follows a proposal made by Tokayev last year, describing the decision as critical for Kazakhstan’s future. Opinions remain divided due to concerns over nuclear safety, largely stemming from the legacy of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, which was closed in 1991 after being used for over 450 nuclear tests during the Soviet era. — Agencies