Uzbekistan and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have affirmed their collaboration in the peaceful use of atomic energy, as highlighted in a statement from the Ministry of Energy following a meeting between Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in Vienna on June 10.
The meeting focused on the continuation of cooperation in this domain, with Rafael Grossi expressing the IAEA's readiness to support Uzbekistan in its endeavors to introduce nuclear energy, particularly through the implementation of small modular reactors (SMRs).
Rafael Grossi stated, "The IAEA is ready to continue to support Uzbekistan in its plans to introduce nuclear energy in the country, in particular small modular reactors."
The @IAEAorg is ready to continue supporting #Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 as it steps up its plans to introduce nuclear energy in the country, including #SMRs. Pleased to welcome Uzbekistan’s Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamahmudov today at the IAEA. pic.twitter.com/xw3YM4B5gc
— Rafael Mariano Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi) June 10, 2024
The discussions come in the wake of Uzbekistan's announcement during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Tashkent in May, regarding the construction of a low-power nuclear power plant in the Jizzakh region. The project, based on a Russian design, entails the construction of six reactors, each with a capacity of 55 MW, totaling 330 MW. The timeline for the project involves the launch of the first reactor within five years, followed by subsequent reactors at six-month intervals.
The chosen site for the nuclear power plant, near Lake Tuzkan, was previously earmarked for a larger nuclear power plant featuring two units of 1200 MW each. Notably, IAEA experts conducted site assessments in Uzbekistan in the summer of 2021 and early 2023 to evaluate the feasibility of constructing a nuclear power plant.
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