Uzbekistan is continuing construction of a nuclear power plant, with work currently focused on two small 55-megawatt units while Rosatom plans to begin full-scale construction of two 1,000-megawatt units in 2027. Alexey Likhachev, director general of the Russian state nuclear corporation, announced the timeline during a visit to the site. The project is being presented as a strategic step to diversify Uzbekistan’s energy mix, reduce reliance on gas and meet rising electricity demand; builders aim to complete concrete work on the foundation slab for the small units by the end of this year.
Key Takeaways: Current work covers two small units of 55 MW each, with full construction of two 1,000 MW units expected to start in 2027. More than 1,000 workers are already on site, with plans to double staffing in the coming months and reach up to 13,500 specialists at peak construction in 2030–2031. Rosatom describes the project as the world’s first small nuclear power plant built under an export model.
The project reflects Uzbekistan’s broader effort to modernize its power system and add stable baseload capacity as the economy and population demand more electricity. Nuclear generation is being viewed as a long-term option to complement gas, hydro and renewable sources, although it also raises questions about international safety standards, workforce readiness, financing and environmental impact. Officials portray the plant as important for regional energy security, but the technical and organizational complexity of delivering it remains only partly disclosed.
According to Likhachev, the facility is unique because it is the first small nuclear power plant implemented under an export model. Two large 1,000 MW units are planned next to the small reactors; specialists are now conducting engineering surveys and refining design solutions. Work at the large-unit site is expected to move into an active phase next year. The scale of construction is already expanding: more than 1,000 people are employed at the site, and staffing is expected to double in the coming months.
Rosatom intends to transfer a significant share of construction work to Uzbek companies. Training for personnel who will operate the first small unit is scheduled to begin by the end of 2027. Equipment manufacturing is also continuing: a 105-tonne reactor vessel blank for one of the small units has already been prepared. These steps suggest the project covers not only construction but also industrial cooperation, local contracting and the development of domestic nuclear workforce capacity.
A nuclear workers’ city is also planned near the plant for station employees and their families. In its first phase, it is expected to accommodate about 33,000 residents and include housing as well as education, healthcare, science, sports and cultural facilities. Upcoming milestones include the start of full-scale work on the large units, the training schedule, the role of local contractors and further details on safety and financing. For Uzbekistan, the project is both a bid to strengthen energy independence and a long-term test of its investment and technology partnership model.
Source: podrobno.uz