The technical commissioning of Uzbekistan's first small modular nuclear reactor is scheduled for October-November 2029, according to Azim Akhmedkhadjaev, Director of the Atomic Energy Agency (Uzatom), in an interview with the Alibaev.Politika YouTube project.
According to him, the second small reactor is planned to be launched six months after the first one. Uzbekistan aims to commission its first large reactor in 2033 and fully complete the nuclear power plant project by 2034-2035.
"We understand that a nuclear power plant is not an ordinary industrial facility; it requires a very serious approach. The president demands strict compliance with international safety standards. Therefore, IAEA experts regularly visit our site. Two missions are planned this year," he said.
The head of Uzatom emphasized that the project is being implemented on schedule, but work is carried out with the understanding that "there can be no haste in the construction of a nuclear power plant."
"This is a nuclear power plant that will serve for decades. Its life cycle depends on how correctly we build it in accordance with standards," Akhmedkhadjaev noted.
According to him, the total capacity of the nuclear power plant will be 2,110 MW. It will be capable of generating up to 17 billion kWh of electricity per year.
For comparison, the current installed capacity of Uzbekistan's energy system is about 30 GW, and annual production exceeds 80 billion kWh. Thus, the future NPP with a capacity of 2.1 GW will account for less than 8% of installed capacity but can provide nearly 20% of current production, the agency director noted.
"That is, in the current reality, 8% of capacity will produce 20% of energy," he said.
Akhmedkhadjaev also recalled that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that Uzbekistan intends to continue developing nuclear energy.
"We are confident that after the successful implementation of the first stage of the small-capacity station and its practical application, we will be tasked to move forward. Therefore, by continuously developing nuclear power plants and technologies, we will take a good and worthy place in the country's overall energy balance," the Uzatom head said.
At the end of September, the countries signed documents defining the configuration of the future nuclear power plant to be built in the Farish district of Jizzakh region. The project includes four power units located on one site: two with VVER-1000 reactors (1 GW each) and two with RITM-200N reactors of 55 MW each. This arrangement has no analogues in the world.
In October last year, Abdujamil Kalmuratov, Director of the NPP Construction Directorate, called the project unique. According to him, first electricity is planned from 2029, and industrial generation is expected to start within two years, by the end of 2031.
"In 2033 and 2035, we aim to commission the large power units of the NPP. Considering the warranty periods, we have an additional two years, which, according to experts, is covered by the warranty. After that, the facility will be put into operation," he explained.
Uzatom head Azim Akhmedkhadjaev also stated that the base cost of the integrated NPP construction in Uzbekistan will not exceed $9.5 billion. The project will partly involve the state budget, but it will be mainly implemented through credit funds.
At the first concrete pouring ceremony, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would provide Uzbekistan with a concessional export credit for the NPP construction. According to him, Rosatom will undertake obligations for nuclear fuel supply, plant maintenance, and spent nuclear material management.
Source: www.gazeta.uz