Russia to speed up construction of 2 nuclear power plants in Uzbekistan

Russia is preparing to accelerate plans for the simultaneous construction of two nuclear power plants in Uzbekistan—one large and one small—Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced at a reception hosted by the Uzbek Embassy in Russia on the occasion of Uzbekistan’s 34th Independence Day.

“Work is underway in Uzbekistan to build two nuclear power plants, one large and one small, according to the Russian project. This is the first project of its kind in the Central Asian region,” Ryabkov said, adding that he is confident the successful implementation of the project will mark a new technological breakthrough for Uzbekistan.

Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev stated in April that construction work on a small nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan is expected to begin within a year, with concrete pouring scheduled as part of the first phase. He added that Rosatom has prepared detailed proposals for building a large nuclear power plant in the country, including financial models, organizational plans, and options for maximizing localization.

The planned small nuclear power plant is Rosatom’s first export project of its kind abroad. Uzbekistan and Russia reached an agreement on the project in spring 2024, and a protocol was signed later that year to develop technical documentation and begin design work.

According to earlier plans, the plant will consist of six reactors, each with a capacity of 55 MW. Construction is scheduled to start this summer, with phased commissioning between 2029 and 2033.

Rosatom has previously stated that Uzbekistan will finance the project, and no Russian loan is currently under consideration.