Public Trust and Energy in Kazakhstan: Assessment of the Role of State Agencies

Abstract

Currently, the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan has made an important decision regarding constructing a nuclear power station in the country. In matters of nuclear policy implementation, the state often faces strong scepticism or distrust from the public. Therefore, it is necessary for the authorities to clarify to citizens the goals and importance of the initiative to build the plant and to understand public concerns and the acceptability of nuclear energy. This study examines public awareness and the transparency of government agencies in implementing state policy regarding constructing a nuclear power plant in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The aim of this research is to analyze the public recognition and readiness of the population to support the state’s energy policy, to analyze the population’s trust in government agencies implementing this policy, and the acceptability of building a nuclear power plant in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The study uses both quantitative and qualitative analysis methods, as well as surveys and SWOT analysis. In addition, the work presents informational materials from state institutions, news articles, and an analysis of international experience in the field of nuclear energy. The survey results showed that at the moment, the state needs to take measures to obtain broad public support for the development of nuclear energy, as the population has very different views on the benefits of operating a nuclear power plant. Additionally, the research identified gaps in informing the population about the country’s energy policy and low public trust in the authorities. Furthermore, a SWOT analysis revealed «weak» points and existing problems in implementing the energy policy.

Keywords

• economy
• energy policy
• green economy
• nuclear energy
• economic growth
• strategy