Azim Akhmedkhadjaev. Screenshot from video
An international consortium will be formed to construct Uzbekistan’s nuclear power plant, Azim Akhmedkhadjaev, director of the Uzbek Agency for the Development of Nuclear Energy (Uzatom), announced in a February 10 interview with O’zbekiston 24.
Referring to the 2024 agreement with Rosatom on building a small nuclear power plant (SNPP) in the country, Akhmedkhadjaev stated that at a February 10 meeting, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the need for the project to have an international scope.
“Therefore, the project will incorporate not only Russian technologies but also non-nuclear technologies from China, as well as various software and hardware solutions from Europe. This will create an international consortium that will allow for the most efficient implementation of the project using the best available technologies,” the Uzatom chief explained.
The project will also incorporate innovative approaches, such as dry cooling towers from Hungary or China, to reduce water consumption at the plant, Akhmedkhadjaev noted.
He added that the SNPP project is being implemented “under mandatory supervision by the IAEA,” with the agency’s specialists working alongside Rosatom to ensure compliance with safety regulations and standards. Uzatom has developed a separate cooperation program with the IAEA, which assists in training qualified personnel and ensuring nuclear safety in Uzbekistan.
At the presidential meeting, it was noted that in recent years, Uzbekistan has introduced around 4 GW of renewable energy capacity, raising the share of “green” energy to 16%. Over the next five years, the country plans to add another 25 GW of renewable energy capacity, aiming to produce 64 billion kWh of green energy and increase its share to over 50% by 2030.
Mirziyoyev described nuclear energy as an optimal solution for a long-term energy base, especially given Uzbekistan’s uranium reserves. The government plans to develop this base through the construction of small nuclear reactors. The meeting also highlighted that there are currently 417 nuclear reactors operating worldwide, with a combined capacity of 375 GW.
ℹ️ On May 27, during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Tashkent, Uzbekistan signed a contract with Rosatom for the design, supply, and construction of a small nuclear power station (SNPP). As part of the agreement, the two governments amended their 2018 intergovernmental accord on nuclear energy cooperation.
The first SNPP is set to be built near Lake Tuzkan in the Farish district of Jizzakh region. The site will host six reactors, each with a capacity of 55 MW, totaling 330 MW. These reactors will be installed on a single site, meeting nuclear energy safety and regulatory requirements. The first reactor is expected to be commissioned in 2029, with each subsequent reactor coming online at six-month intervals. Full operation of the plant is planned for 2032–2033.
