Forish district chosen as location for Uzbekistan’s first small nuclear plant

Uzbekistan has selected Forish district in Jizzakh region as the site for its first small-capacity nuclear power plant, according to the Uzatom agency.

On May 6, an operational headquarters and scientific-technical council meeting was held under the leadership of Alisher Sultonov, presidential advisor on energy security, to discuss the implementation of the nuclear project. Officials conducted a thorough review of the project’s key aspects and outlined the next steps.

During the meeting, a presentation highlighted progress on the construction agreement signed with Atomstroeksport JSC, including planning stages, preparatory measures, and international cooperation efforts.

The scientific-technical council assessed the engineering studies conducted at the chosen location, confirming that the findings will form the basis of the project documentation while ensuring high safety standards for the facility.

As part of the discussion, authorities approved the placement scheme for the nuclear plant, aligning it with regional energy demands and optimizing electricity production. The potential use of Uzbekistan’s natural uranium reserves for nuclear fuel production was also addressed.

The development of nuclear power dates back to 1948, when Igor Kurchatov proposed atomic energy research to the Soviet government. In May 1950, Obninsk (Russia) became the site of the world's first nuclear power plant, which was completed in 1954 with a capacity of 5 MW. The first instance of electricity being generated from a nuclear reactor occurred in 1951 in Idaho, USA, producing 800 watts of energy, enough to power four incandescent light bulbs.

In May 2024, Uzatom and Rosatom signed an agreement for the construction of Uzbekistan’s small nuclear power plant, which will be based on Russia’s RITM-200N reactor (55 MW capacity, 60-year lifespan). The first reactor is expected to be operational within five years, with additional units being introduced at six-month intervals. The plant is projected to reach full design capacity no earlier than 2033.

Uzbekistan plans to establish an international consortium for the project, involving Russia, China, and European technologies. Additionally, global companies will be engaged to supply equipment for turbines, generators, and cooling systems.

O‘zatom director Azim Ahmadkhojaev stated that the total cost of the nuclear project would be under $2 billion and confirmed ongoing negotiations with three French companies for participation in the planned construction in Jizzakh region.