The Jizzakh region of Uzbekistan has seen the establishment of a headquarters to oversee the construction of a low-power nuclear power plant, as announced by Uzatom.
On June 26, the inaugural meeting of the headquarters was held, attended by key figures including Andrey Petrov, the first deputy head of the state corporation Rosatom and president of its subsidiary Atomstroyexport. During this meeting, priority tasks for implementing the contract were identified.
Work on the infrastructure for the upcoming nuclear power plant is slated to begin in the fall. This initial phase will include the construction of a construction camp and various auxiliary facilities. A protocol detailing the procedure for the contract's entry into force was signed by Otabek Amanov, head of the Uzatom nuclear power plant construction directorate, and Pavel Bezrukov, director of projects for the construction of nuclear power plants in Central Asia for Atomstroyexport.
On the same day, Kasym Tokhtakhunov, an adviser to the director of Uzatom, announced plans to hold public hearings on the nuclear power plant project. These hearings will be conducted in line with the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Tokhtakhunov clarified that the Uzbek authorities do not deem a referendum on nuclear energy necessary. This stance contrasts with Kazakhstan, where President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has announced a popular vote on the construction of a nuclear power plant this fall.
Tokhtakhunov highlighted that small power units are particularly suitable for the current energy sector situation in Uzbekistan. These units, with their flexible operating modes, can effectively balance generation with renewable energy sources. He also mentioned that the turbine parts of the power units would be adapted to local conditions, expressing confidence in the performance and safety of the RITM-200N reactor.
The contract for constructing the low-power nuclear power plants was signed by Uzatom and Rosatom on May 27. The project utilizes the RITM-200N pressurized water reactor, a Russian development originally designed for shipboard use but adapted for land-based deployment. The reactor has a thermal power of 190 MW, electrical power of 55 MW, and a service life of up to 60 years.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the critical importance of this small nuclear power plant project for Uzbekistan's economic development, citing the country's uranium reserves, which are currently being exported. According to Uzatom, the first reactor is expected to be operational by 2029, with subsequent reactors being commissioned at six-month intervals, reaching full design capacity by 2033.
This project follows nearly six years of negotiations for a high-power nuclear power plant also planned for the Jizzakh region. The construction period for the high-power plant is estimated to be six years.
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