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Uzbekistan, Russia Celebrate Start of Nuclear Power Plant Construction… Again

Tashkent and Moscow celebrated the start of construction on the plant – two months after the companies involved celebrated the same thing.

On June 4, via videoconference from St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, joined by International Atomic Energy Agency Director general Rafael Grossi, celebrated the start of construction on the first unit of a new nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan. 

“The start of pouring concrete for the foundation of Unit 1 of the future nuclear power plant marks the beginning of the construction of one of the largest nuclear power plants in the region,” Putin said.

The event, on the sidelines of the  St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, comes more than two months after the heads of Uzatom and Rosatom, partnering on the project, marked the start of construction at the site in Jizzakh region’s Forish district.

In May 2024, during a state visit to Uzbekistan, Putin and Mirziyoyev shook hands on a deal the latter called “vital”: the construction of a nuclear power plant. Various configurations have been floated, but the current plan includes two small modular reactors (SMRs), specifically RITM-200N reactors, with a capacity of 55 megawatts each and two large VVER-1000 reactors, each generating 1 GW.

“The fact that Russia and Uzbekistan are implementing such a truly flagship high-tech project is a shining example of the friendship and alliance between our two countries and testifies to the successful and dynamic development of the Russian-Uzbek strategic partnership across all areas,” Putin proclaimed this week.

Mirziyoyev called the moment “historic.”

“We are ushering in a new era of technological, industrial, and scientific development for our country,” he added. “In Uzbekistan, the foundations are being laid for the development of a new field – modern nuclear energy – an industry that symbolizes advanced scientific capabilities, cutting-edge engineering expertise, and a strategic vision for the future.”

While government statements – including Putin’s recent remarks – list the large reactors first, it’s actually the small ones that will be constructed first.

Once fully operational, Uzbek authorities claim that the plant will meet over 15 percent of Uzbekistan’s electricity needs – around 16-17........

© The Diplomat