UzAtom in talks with three French companies on small-scale nuclear power plant

Uzbekistan is negotiating with French companies to participate in the construction of a small-scale nuclear power plant in the Jizzakh region, according to Azim Ahmedkhadjaev, Director of the Atomic Energy Development Agency (UzAtom), in an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro.

Expanding cooperation with France

Last week, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid a state visit to France, where energy cooperation was a key topic of discussion. Le Figaro notes that France has a growing interest in uranium deposits in Uzbekistan and Central Asia, especially amid potential reductions in supply from Niger, which could impact the French nuclear company Orano. Orano has an existing partnership with Uzbekistan’s state-owned enterprise, Navoiyuran.

During the visit, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Energy, Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, emphasized that cooperation between the two countries should extend beyond the energy sector to other areas as well.

“We are negotiating with several French companies, including Assystem (as a technical partner), Bureau Veritas (for training programs), and Framatome (for technical management of power plants),” said UzAtom chief Azim Ahmedkhadjaev.

He added that Uzbekistan aims to diversify its nuclear energy partnerships not only for technological advancements but also for financial sustainability. “France is a country that can offer cutting-edge technology,” he noted.

Establishing an Uzbek-French University

During Mirziyoyev’s visit, Uzbekistan and France signed an intergovernmental agreement to establish an Uzbek-French University, set to open this fall. Joanna Golas, Chair of the French-Uzbek Economic Chamber, stated that the university would help train skilled professionals in accordance with the best practices of French companies.

In December 2024, UzAtom signed an agreement with the French company Assystem Engineering and Operation Services, a subsidiary of Assystem.

International consortium for small nuclear power plant

In February, Ahmedkhadjaev announced Uzbekistan’s plan to create an “international consortium” for the construction of a small-scale nuclear power plant, involving various foreign entities. Alongside Russian technologies, the project is expected to integrate non-nuclear technologies from China, as well as European software and hardware solutions.

On May 27, 2024, UzAtom and Rosatom signed a contract for the construction of a small-scale nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan. The project is based on the Russian-designed RITM-200N water-cooled reactor, adapted from marine applications for land-based use. The reactor has a thermal capacity of 190 MW, an electrical capacity of 55 MW, and a service life of up to 60 years.

President Mirziyoyev called the small-scale nuclear power plant project “vital” for Uzbekistan’s economic development, emphasizing that the country possesses uranium reserves, which it currently exports.

According to UzAtom’s statement to Spot, the first reactor of the plant is scheduled to be launched within five years, with subsequent reactors coming online every six months. This timeline suggests that the plant will not reach full operational capacity before 2033.

For nearly six years, Uzbekistan had been in negotiations for the construction of a large-scale nuclear power plant, also planned for the Jizzakh region. The estimated construction timeline for that project is six years.

In September, Uzbekistan and Russia signed a protocol to begin construction of the small-scale nuclear power plant. Rosatom has since started refining project documentation and conducting site studies.

Otabek Amanov, Director of the Nuclear Power Plant Construction Directorate at UzAtom, suggested that international companies could be involved in constructing auxiliary facilities for the Jizzakh plant, particularly in supplying turbine equipment, generators, and dry cooling towers.