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Russia and Uzbekistan have signed a cooperation roadmap in the field of nuclear energy and started initial construction steps for Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant project, marking a milestone in the Central Asian country’s energy development program.
Early-stage concrete pouring has been carried out to prepare for the construction of the first small modular reactor (SMR). The work is described as a technical milestone that moves the project from preparation to on-site implementation.
The cooperation roadmap was signed by Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev and Uzatom Director Azim Akhmedkhadzhaev. It covers key areas of the project, including plant construction, training of personnel, raising community awareness of modern nuclear technology, and guidance for creating a future “nuclear city” near the project area.
In parallel, an additional agreement was signed to adjust the plant’s scope and configuration. Under the updated design, the project will include two large-capacity VVER-1000 units and two SMR RITM-200N units with 55 MWe. Previously, the initial plan envisioned six SMRs with a total capacity of about 330 MWe.
With the adjustment, the plant’s total capacity is expected to exceed 2,100 MWe, compared with the original plan.
Leaders of the two countries also spoke by phone, acknowledging the signing of the cooperation roadmap and progress on the first SMR unit in the Jizzakh area, according to Rosatom.
Rosatom said that after completing the necessary legal procedures to use the site for two SMR units, concrete work has officially started. About 900 cubic meters of concrete will be used for the foundation of the reactor building, which is expected to be completed in April.
After this phase, the foundation will be leveled and waterproofed before pouring the first concrete for the reactor’s main foundation, a step intended to support technical standards and safety in nuclear construction.
Rosatom said the project’s earlier contract, signed in May 2024 during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Uzbekistan, planned a 330 MW nuclear plant comprising six SMR RITM-200N units. The technology is derived from the reactor used on the nuclear icebreaker, with thermal output of 190 MW (equivalent to 55 MWe) and a design life of about 60 years.
Under the earlier plan, the first unit was expected to begin operations by the end of 2029, with the remaining units to follow. Rosatom also described the deal as Russia’s first export order for SMRs, a milestone in its small modular reactor commercialization strategy.
Currently, the onshore version of the RITM-200N technology is being built in Yakutia, Russia, with the first unit projected to operate in 2027.
By September 2025, within World Atomic Week in Moscow, the two sides signed an agreement to significantly expand the project’s scale. The plant model shifts to a combination of large-capacity VVER-1000 units (each 1 GW) and SMRs to support operational efficiency and flexibility in power supply.
Before pouring concrete, site preparation began in October 2025 with excavation for the foundation pit of the first SMR. About 1.5 million cubic meters of earth were excavated to create a 13-meter-deep pit for the RITM-200N, while technical surveys, design work, and construction preparations proceeded in parallel.
When fully operational, the plant is expected to produce about 17.2 billion kWh of electricity per year, equivalent to about 14% of Uzbekistan’s total energy demand, supporting national energy security.
Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev said signing the roadmap and launching construction have technical significance and also mark Uzbekistan’s emergence as a new player in the global nuclear energy field. He added that the project is expected to contribute to economic and social growth and strengthen technology self-reliance for decades.
The article also notes that SMRs are a growing global trend in nuclear energy. Compared with traditional large-scale nuclear power plants, SMRs are described as having lower upfront capital costs, enabling staged deployment, and fitting medium- and small-scale power systems.
It states that countries including the United States, Canada, Russia, China, and EU members are promoting research, commercialization, and deployment of SMR projects to support energy transition and carbon reduction goals, including electricity supply for infrastructure-constrained areas, data centers, and new industrial complexes.
For Vietnam, the article says SMRs could be a long-term option given rising electricity demand and the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. It adds that SMRs could provide a more flexible approach than conventional nuclear power and a pathway to gradually build domestic capabilities, including training, supply chain development, and legal frameworks for future nuclear energy.
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