President Tokayev Highlights Strategic Role of Nuclear Energy and Critical Minerals in National Development
Astana, The Gulf Observer: Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has underscored the strategic significance of nuclear energy and critical minerals in Kazakhstan’s long-term development during an in-depth interview with the Turkistan newspaper.
President Tokayev emphasized that the construction of multiple nuclear power plants carries both practical and symbolic importance for the country. “Building several nuclear power plants is, on the one hand, a correction of a historical absurdity—being a world leader in uranium production and not having built a single nuclear power plant—and, on the other hand, a matter of Kazakhstan’s prestige,” he said.
The President noted that these projects would have lasting implications for human capital development. “Through the construction of nuclear power plants, we will train a new class of technical intelligentsia, which in turn will transform the very essence of our state policy,” he added.
On the topic of critical minerals, Tokayev highlighted the strategic relevance of rare earth metals amid rapidly growing global demand. “Demand for critical materials will grow over the next five years and will double. This opens a new window of opportunity for Kazakhstan,” he said, pointing out the country’s potential to emerge as a global leader in rare earth mineral reserves. To consolidate its position, Kazakhstan is expanding international cooperation with countries including the United States, China, Russia, South Korea, Japan, and several European Union members.
Addressing the role of nuclear energy in Kazakhstan’s strategic vision, President Tokayev stressed that the country’s transition to a new technological model of economic development is impossible without a reliable energy base. “Without stable power generation, Kazakhstan will not be able to move to a new technological model of the economy. Supercomputers, data centers, and automated industrial complexes require enormous amounts of energy. This is the reality of the new global technological paradigm,” he said.
The President also drew attention to the rising demand for highly skilled technical specialists, linking the development of modern energy infrastructure to shifts in the labor market. “The construction of energy facilities requires skilled personnel. The head of NVIDIA, the world’s largest company with a capitalization of around $4.5 trillion, predicts that ‘blue-collar’ workers—meaning representatives of technical professions—will soon join the ranks of multimillionaires,” Tokayev noted.
These remarks reflect Kazakhstan’s ambition to strengthen its energy and technological capabilities while positioning itself as a leading player in the global critical minerals market.
