Putin Signals Plans for Kyrgyzstan’s First Nuclear Power Plant

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday suggested the possibility of constructing Kyrgyzstan's first nuclear power plant.

During a meeting with his Kyrgyz counterpart Sadyr Japarov in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, Putin said that advanced small modular reactor technology could be used in the new nuclear power plant, The Caspian Post reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

"Rosatom (Russian nuclear industry company) is implementing a large-scale reclamation program for uranium mining sites (in Kyrgyzstan). The possibility of constructing the republic's first nuclear power plant using advanced Russian technology-small modular reactor technology-is being explored, which, I emphasize, meets the most stringent safety and environmental protection requirements," Putin noted.

He also said that Russia and Kyrgyzstan are planning to build a large solar power plant in the Issyk-Kul region, in eastern Kyrgyzstan.

Meanwhile, in northern Kyrgyzstan, a new modern combined heat and power plant will be built, the Russian leader noted.