IAEA: Uzbekistan is ready to build its first nuclear power plant

In June, a group of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) paid a 12-day visit to Uzbekistan. Inspectors comprehensively assessed the infrastructure development process for the nuclear power program and came to the conclusion that everything is going according to plan and in compliance with all regulatory requirements.

The members of the group stated that “Uzbekistan has made significant progress in developing the nuclear power plant project and has taken steps to improve the regulatory framework and strengthen the capacity of the regulator”. They added that the country’s nuclear power program enjoys strong government support.

The group made recommendations and proposals aimed at helping Uzbekistan prepare for the construction of its first nuclear power plant.

“Uzbekistan has made significant progress in the development of its nuclear energy infrastructure,” group leader Milko Kovachev, head of the IAEA’s Nuclear Infrastructure Development Section, noted.

The team consisted of one expert each from Brazil and Bulgaria and eight staff members of the IAEA. 

The IAEA was created in 1957 to assist states in the peaceful use of atomic energy.

Uzbekistan, a major global supplier of uranium, expects nuclear power to provide a low-carbon energy source and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase generating capacity. In 2017, the country signed an intergovernmental agreement with the Russian Federation to build two VVER-1200 pressurized water reactors, which are to be commissioned by 2030. In 2019, Uzbekistan began the site selection process for its first nuclear power plant.