Construction of small-capacity nuclear power units begins in Jizzakh

Uzbekistan has officially entered the active construction phase of its first nuclear power plant (NPP). On March 24, a ceremony was held in Farish district of Jizzakh region to mark the pouring of the "first concrete" for the foundation of a small-capacity nuclear power unit equipped with a RITM-200N reactor.

The event coincided with the signing of two major bilateral documents between the Uzatom Agency and Russia’s state atomic energy corporation, Rosatom. Azim Akhmedkhodjayev, Director of Uzatom, and Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, finalized a "Roadmap" for expanded cooperation and an agreement confirming the updated configuration of the future plant.

The newly signed Roadmap outlines the critical stages of the project, including high-level personnel training, infrastructure development for a dedicated "atomic city," and measures to ensure public acceptance of nuclear energy.

The confirmed configuration for the plant includes:

Two large-scale units: Equipped with Generation 3+ VVER-1000 reactors.
Two small-capacity units: Equipped with RITM-200N reactors (55 MW each).

Once fully operational, the station is expected to produce approximately 15.4 billion kWh of electricity annually. This output will account for more than 15% of Uzbekistan’s total national electricity consumption.

The first concrete phase

The ceremony in Farish focused on the foundation works for the RITM-200N small-capacity unit. Abdijamil Kalmuratov, Director of the NPP Construction Directorate in Uzbekistan, and Pavel Bezrukov, Vice President of Atomstroyexport JSC, oversaw the proceedings.

Currently, teams are preparing the concrete base beneath the reactor building. This phase, which involves laying nearly 900 m³ of concrete mixture to create a waterproofed and grounded foundation, is scheduled for completion in April 2026.

Regulatory and safety clearance

The Committee for Industrial, Radiation, and Nuclear Safety under the Cabinet of Ministers has officially granted a permit to the NPP Construction Directorate to utilize the selected site.

According to Uzatom, a comprehensive expert evaluation confirmed the absence of prohibitive factors such as active tectonic faults, high seismic risk zones, or intense karst formations. The positive conclusion demonstrates that the site fully complies with international nuclear and radiation safety requirements, environmental norms, and technical standards.

A "decisive step" for national energy

In a statement to journalists, Uzatom Director Azim Akhmedkhodjayev emphasized the historical significance of the day.

"Today is another important day for the future of Uzbekistan – we have taken a decisive step in implementing the national program for creating modern nuclear energy," Akhmedkhodjayev said. He noted that the project is under the personal supervision of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as a pillar of the country's energy independence. "Adhering strictly to the schedule and the highest safety standards, we are moving forward step-by-step: from concrete preparation and building the reactor hall to equipment installation and final commissioning."