Discussion of the President's Address and the role of NPPs in the country

    On September 26, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., a discussion of the main issues of the upcoming referendum with 2nd year students took place in the 317 auditorium. The head of the Department of Civil Law and Civil Procedure, Labor Law, Professor Suleimenova S.Zh. and deputy heads, Associate Professor Nurakhmetova G.G. and PhD doctor Myrzataev N.D. took an active part in the discussion.

     Professor Suleimenova S.Zh. noted that, September 2, 2024 the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kasym-Jomart Tokayev, speaking with the Address to the people of Kazakhstan “Fair Kazakhstan: law and order, economic growth, social optimism”, noted that a particularly important economic and political issue was the development of nuclear energy. The President of Kazakhstan, emphasizing the existence of different opinions on the expediency of building nuclear power plants in our country, instructed to continue public hearings and comprehensive broad discussion on the construction of nuclear power plants. Taking into account the polarity of views and the extreme importance of the issue, he proposed to put it to a national referendum in 2024. Recall that the plant is proposed to be built on Lake Balkhash - in the village of Ulken in Almaty region. The authorities promise that with the construction of the NPP the country will receive not just clean, but also cheap electricity, which will keep tariffs low.

    The students actively joined the discussion, asking questions about the potential environmental and economic consequences of the construction of nuclear power plants. Such aspects as the impact on local ecosystems, the safety of the plant's operation and the long-term prospects for the development of nuclear energy in the country were discussed. PhD Doctor Myrzataev N.D. provided explanations based on current research and world experience, which helped students to better understand all sides of the issue. The discussion demonstrated how important it is to involve young people in the decision-making process concerning their future. Professor Suleimenova S.Zh. She stressed that understanding the issues related to the referendum forms students' critical thinking and active citizenship. The discussion of issues related to the upcoming referendum has become an important platform for the exchange of views between teachers of the department and students, emphasizing the importance of civic participation in decision-making concerning the future of the country. The participation of students in such discussions contributes to the formation of their active citizenship and understanding of democratic processes.

   As the discussion event showed, the referendum on October 6, 2024 is not just a formality, but an opportunity for every citizen to express their opinion on important issues related to the country's energy policy.