Construction of Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant (NPP) has officially begun, the Uzatom Agency reported, adding that initial concrete works are now underway at the site.

On March 24, ceremonial events were held in Tashkent and at the NPP construction site in the Forish district of Jizzakh region. As part of the events, key documents on strategic cooperation were signed, and the first concrete works were formally launched.

A roadmap for cooperation in nuclear and related fields was signed between the Uzatom Agency and Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom. In addition, an agreement related to the contract for the construction of an integrated NPP in Uzbekistan was concluded. Uzatom Director Azim Akhmedkhadjaev and Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev signed the document.

Roadmap covers the main areas of cooperation, including:

• stages of implementation of the NPP construction project;
• training of highly qualified personnel;
• ensuring public acceptance of nuclear energy;
• development of infrastructure for a future nuclear town and comprehensive sector development.

At the project site, a ceremony was also held to mark the start of initial concrete works for the construction of a low-capacity NPP power unit equipped with an RITM-200N reactor. The opening ceremony was conducted by Abdujamil Kalmuratov, Director of the NPP Construction Directorate in Uzbekistan, and Pavel Bezrukov, Vice President of Atomstroyexport JSC and Project Director for the NPP construction in Uzbekistan (Rosatom’s engineering division).

Work is currently under way to prepare the concrete base beneath the reactor building, with this phase scheduled for completion in April 2026. In total, nearly 900 cubic metres of concrete will be poured. Upon completion, a foundation equipped with waterproofing and grounding systems will be prepared for the reactor building.

An agreement was also signed confirming the updated configuration of the plant, which includes:

• two power units with Generation III+ VVER-1000 reactors;
• two power units with RITM-200N reactors, each with a capacity of 55 MW.

Once fully operational, the plant is expected to generate around 15.4 billion kWh of electricity annually, accounting for more than 15% of Uzbekistan’s total electricity consumption.

The State Enterprise “NPP Construction Directorate” has also received a permit from the Committee for Industrial, Radiation, and Nuclear Safety under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan to use the site for the placement of two NPP power units with RITM-200N reactor installations. Expert assessments confirmed the absence of factors that would prohibit construction, such as active tectonic faults, high seismic zones, or areas prone to intense karst formation.

This positive conclusion serves as a key document confirming that the selected site fully complies with nuclear and radiation safety requirements, environmental standards, and technical regulations. It is considered one of the most important stages in the lifecycle of any nuclear power plant, enabling further detailed design, engineering preparation, and subsequent construction phases while ensuring maximum safety.

“The project is being implemented under the strict supervision of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who personally supports the development of the nuclear industry as a key direction for ensuring the country’s energy independence and sustainable growth.

By strictly adhering to the schedule and the highest safety standards, we are moving forward step by step. This includes work ranging from concrete preparation and construction of the reactor building to equipment installation and commissioning of the power units,” Azim Akhmedkhadjaev said.