Kazakhstan has completed the nationwide competition to name the country’s first nuclear power plant. The contest, held at the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, took place on the eGov Mobile platform from September 25 to October 10, 2025.
The Competition Commission selected “Balqash atom elektr stantsiyasy” as the winning name, as it received the highest number of submissions from citizens. The choice also follows international practice, where nuclear power plants are often named after their geographic location.
A total of 27,157 citizens aged 16 and above participated, with each person allowed to propose one name. The Commission, established on September 5, included representatives of the public, the creative industry, and experts in nuclear energy, philology, and history.
Among all submissions, 10,460 unique options were identified, accounting for different scripts and synonymous wording. The Commission reviewed the 100 most popular entries. “Balqash atom elektr stantsiyasy” received 882 submissions, placing first.
The Commission also approved the official names in Russian and English:
— “Атомная электростанция ‘Балхаш’”;
— “Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant.”