Uzbekistan Eyes Expansion of Nuclear Power Project with High-Capacity Units

Uzbekistan’s Agency for the Development of Atomic Energy (Uzatom), under the Cabinet of Ministers, is weighing the possibility of expanding its nuclear power plant project by adding high-capacity units.

The announcement was made by Uzatom Director Azim Akhmedkhadjaev on the sidelines of the World Nuclear Week forum in Moscow, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

Akhmedkhadjaev noted that the potential expansion will depend on the pace of domestic electricity consumption in the coming years.

“The expansion will depend on the pace of electricity consumption growth. We do not rule out the need for additional capacity in the future, especially if the initial project proves successful. If such a demand arises, it will need to be addressed,” he stated.

The nuclear plant, planned for construction in Uzbekistan’s Jizzakh region, has already received site approval. The total area allocated spans over 1,000 hectares, with the first phase of the project-featuring two large-capacity units and two small modular reactors-set to occupy around 525 hectares.

On June 20, during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Uzatom and Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom signed an agreement to explore the feasibility of building a large-scale nuclear power plant in the country.

While the original design included two VVER-1000 power units, recent developments have led to an updated configuration. The new plan features two Generation III+ VVER-1000 reactors, alongside two RITM-200N small modular reactors, each capable of producing 55 MW of electricity.