Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) –– Uzbekistan’s demand for electricity by 2030 will increase to 117 billion kWh. To cover the growing needs of industry and the population, for ten years the country needs to increase energy production from the current 64 billion kWh by almost 2 times. This can be done through the development of nuclear energy and renewable energy sources - solar and wind farms.

Back in 2007, I wrote that Uzbekistan would have to build a nuclear power plant by the middle of the century, we have no other choice. Oil and gas production is gradually declining. What will we do when these resources run out? Our only way out is nuclear energy and renewable energy sources, they will be able to provide the republic with long-term energy security. Moreover, we have an excellent resource base: up to 4 thousand tons of uranium are mined annually, says Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Professor Kahramon Allaev.

Among the 17 global goals that the UN has identified as the “Sustainable Development Goals until 2030”, there is one that is especially relevant for our country - “Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy sources for all.” The development of the nuclear industry and renewable energy sources (RES) in Uzbekistan may be the direction that will lead the country to stable indicators of sustainable development.

World practice shows that the program for creating our own nuclear energy industry gives a powerful impetus to economic and industrial development, contributes to the development of educational and scientific fields, the construction industry, mechanical engineering, the chemical industry, transport and other industries.

In addition, unlike thermal power plants, nuclear power does not affect the climate and the environment.

- 4.5 grams of nuclear fuel energy equivalent to 350 kg of oil or 400 kg of coal. But unlike power plants operating on hydrocarbon raw materials, a nuclear plant does not produce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. That is why nuclear power is considered environmentally friendly, Professor Allaev shares his calculations.

It is worth noting that nuclear power plants will add 2.4 GW of electricity to the country’s energy balance, while 3.0-3.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas will be saved annually, by burning which greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere would amount to 14 million tons of carbon dioxide and 36 thousand tons of nitrogen dioxide.

For sustainable development, the country needs long-term access to stable and environmentally friendly electricity, and the only way for this is to develop nuclear energy and renewable energy, concludes Academician Allaev.