On June 4, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Russia Vladimir Putin launched the construction of the first power unit of an integrated nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan.
The ceremony, held via video conference, was attended by Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Mirziyoyev expressed his gratitude to Putin and Grossi for their personal support and attention to the implementation of this project. He also thanked the Uzbek and Russian specialists involved in the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant for their joint efforts and high level of professionalism.
The implementation of this project marks the beginning of a new stage in the technological, industrial, and scientific development of Uzbekistan and lays the foundation for the development of a new industry, nuclear energy. The project combines the latest achievements in the field of small modular nuclear generation and large-scale baseload power generation.
The President of Uzbekistan emphasized that safety is an absolute and unconditional priority. The construction of the plant and its preparation for operation are being carried out under the constant supervision of the IAEA, in accordance with the most advanced international standards and using cutting-edge engineering solutions.
Confidence was expressed that the implementation of this large-scale project and its outcomes will contribute to the further strengthening of the Uzbek-Russian strategic partnership and alliance.
In March, Rosatom State Corporation and the Atomic Energy Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan signed a Roadmap for cooperation in nuclear and related fields.
An additional agreement to the contract for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan was also signed.
The roadmap covers all key areas of cooperation under the NPP construction project, including personnel training, public awareness about modern nuclear technologies, and the development of a future nuclear city adjacent to the plant.
At the same time, concrete works began at the NPP construction site in the Farish District of Uzbekistan’s Jizzakh Region as part of the construction of a small-scale nuclear power unit with a RITM-200N reactor.
The supplementary agreement to the contract, signed together with the roadmap, provides for a new integrated configuration of the NPP. The project will include two large-capacity power units based on Generation 3+ VVER-1000 reactors and two power units with RITM-200N reactors, each with a capacity of 55 MW. When the nuclear power plant reaches full capacity, it will generate about 17.2 billion kWh per year, providing up to 14% of Uzbekistan’s total electricity consumption.
Photo: president.uz
