Denis Moroz. Photo: Uzatom press service
Belarus is ready to participate in the construction of Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant—if Tashkent is interested. This was stated by Belarusian Minister of Energy Denis Moroz on August 5 in Minsk during a meeting with a delegation from Uzbekistan’s Nuclear Energy Agency “Uzatom,” led by Director Azim Akhmedkhadjaev, according to the Belarusian Energy Ministry’s press service.
The talks focused on potential cooperation in nuclear energy development, including the creation of infrastructure, personnel training, radioactive waste management, and integration of the nuclear power plant into Uzbekistan’s energy system. Moroz voiced his support for Uzbekistan’s decision to pursue the peaceful use of nuclear energy and affirmed Belarus’s willingness to share its experience.
According to Uzatom’s press service, the Uzbek delegation visited Belarus on the instructions of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Their goal was to thoroughly study Belarus’s experience in the construction and operation of a nuclear power plant and assess its relevance to Uzbekistan’s own nuclear project.
Moroz emphasized that the commissioning of Belarus’s nuclear power plant had ensured the country’s energy security and contributed to the development of related sectors, including residential electrification, electric transportation, and innovative economic projects. He stressed that the plant was built in line with high international safety standards, and that safety remains the top priority.
“Our country commissioned its first nuclear power plant in 2023, with a total capacity of 2,400 megawatts. Around 40 percent of all electricity consumed in Belarus is generated by this plant. Companies that performed successfully during its construction are now actively involved in joint international projects with Rosatom. I am confident that Belarusian specialists can contribute to the construction of Uzbekistan’s nuclear power plant,” Moroz was quoted as saying by Uzatom’s press service.
Azim Akhmedkhadjaev, in turn, noted that Belarus’s experience in the implementation and integration of a nuclear power plant is among the most advanced and successful in the field.
“We see strong prospects for finding common ground, expanding cooperation, and inviting our Belarusian colleagues to take part in our project,” Akhmedkhadjaev said.
The nuclear power plant project in Uzbekistan is being undertaken by the Russian state corporation Rosatom. On May 27, 2024, during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Tashkent, a contract was signed for the design, supply, and construction of a small modular nuclear power plant (SMR) consisting of six 55-megawatt reactors. The SMR is planned to be built near Lake Tuzkan in the Farish district of Jizzakh region. The general contractor is Atomstroyexport JSC (Rosatom’s Engineering Division), and local companies will also be involved in the work. In March of this year, it was reported that the first concrete pour for the SMR is scheduled for the second quarter of 2026.
