The influx of Bitcoin miners from China into Kazakhstan has caused an energy crunch. The president of this Central Asian country proposed to use nuclear energy to solve this problem.

Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan Attributed to this Domestic electricity consumption increased by 8% Through 2021 to Bitcoin miners.So far this year, the country has received at least 87,849 Bitcoin mining machines from Chinese companies China cracks down on cryptocurrency mining, According to the data Financial Times.

The substantial increase in demand has led to a shortage of domestic power supply and has led to unreliable power services, according to Kazakhstan Electric Network Operating Company.President Tokayev told bankers at a meeting on November 19 Meeting He believes that the construction of nuclear power plants will help ease the pressure on his country’s power infrastructure:

“Looking forward, we will have to make an unpopular decision about building a nuclear power plant.”

Although Tokayev did not link the proposal to the use of Bitcoin mining electricity, failure to keep miners in the country could endanger Estimated tax revenue of US$1.58 billion Those miner representatives. Power shortages have forced the Bitcoin mining market Xive to leave Kazakhstan. Xive co-founder Didar Bekbau said in a statement on November 25 tweet Due to “restricted grid power supply”, he had to close the company’s mine.

It’s a bit sad to close our mine in South KZ. The last container is ready to be sent. With so much work, people, hopes are all shattered.Country risk comes into play pic.twitter.com/J8ZMg6GeUI

-Didar (@didar_bekbau) November 24, 2021

Kazakhstan now has 50 registered crypto mining companies and an unknown number of unregistered companies.

related: Kazakhstan President Tokayev said: “We are the world’s second largest cryptocurrency miner, and we hardly see any financial returns.”

The decision to build a new nuclear power plant is a serious decision for a country suffering from serious nuclear problems. fall out From weapons testing during the Soviet occupation.The last nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan closure Year 1999.

about 88% Electricity in Kazakhstan currently comes from fossil fuel-burning power plants.