Russia, Uzbekistan Sign Nuclear Cooperation Roadmap

Russia and Uzbekistan have commenced concrete works at a nuclear power plant (NPP) construction site in the Farish District of the Jizzakh Region, marking a key milestone in the development of a small-scale nuclear facility powered by a RITM-200N reactor.

The start of construction activities was marked by senior project officials, including Vice President and Project Director for the Uzbekistan NPP project at Atomstroyexport, Pavel Bezrukov, and Director of Uzbekistan’s NPP Construction Directorate, Abdizhamil Kalmuratov.

As part of preparatory works, approximately 900 cubic metres of concrete will be poured to form the base of the reactor building, a phase scheduled for completion in April 2026.

Once completed, the foundation will be levelled, followed by the installation of waterproofing and grounding systems.

The next major milestone will be the pouring of first concrete for the reactor building’s foundation slab.

Ahead of construction, authorities approved the placement of two power units, each equipped with a RITM-200N reactor.

The permit formalises the site selection and paves the way for full-scale construction of the small modular nuclear plant, in line with national regulations and international safety standards.

In parallel, Rosatom and Uzbekistan’s Atomic Energy Agency (Uzatom) signed a roadmap for cooperation in nuclear and related fields in Tashkent. The agreement was endorsed by Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev and Uzatom Director Azim Akhmedkhadzhaev, alongside a supplementary contract for the NPP project.

The roadmap outlines cooperation across key areas, including workforce training, public awareness of nuclear technologies, and plans for developing a future nuclear city near the plant. It underscores the expanding scope of Russia–Uzbekistan collaboration, with nuclear energy expected to support broader socio-economic development.

“The signing of the roadmap and supplementary agreement, alongside the start of construction works, marks Uzbekistan’s entry into the forefront of the global nuclear power industry,” Likhachev said, noting the project’s potential to strengthen long-term energy security and technological capacity.

Under the updated agreement, the NPP will adopt an integrated configuration combining two large-capacity Generation 3+ VVER-1000 reactors with two smaller RITM-200N units, each with a capacity of 55 MW.

Globally, nuclear energy development continues to gain momentum. In February, Rosatom began pouring first concrete for Unit 5 at Hungary’s Paks Nuclear Power Plant, signalling the start of its main construction phase.

The expansion of such projects highlights the growing scale and technological advancement of nuclear power worldwide.

While countries like Hungary are strengthening long-term energy security, emerging regions—including Africa—are increasingly positioned to tap into nuclear energy to meet rising electricity demand and support economic growth.