Putin and Mirziyoyev to launch construction of first nuclear power plant unit in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Presidents of Russia and Uzbekistan, Vladimir Putin and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will participate on 4 June in a videoconference ceremony launching the construction of the first power unit of an integrated nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, as reported by TASS.

The ceremony will mark the symbolic start of a major energy project involving the construction of two large-capacity power units and two small modular units of 55 MW each.

Ushakov noted that the event will take place at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg, while representatives of international and профиль institutions will be present at the construction site in Uzbekistan. These include International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev, and head of the Uzatom Agency Azim Akhmedkhadjaev.

According to the planned procedure, after speeches by the leaders and remarks from the IAEA Director General, representatives of Rosatom and Uzatom will report on technical readiness, after which a decision will be made to begin pouring concrete for the foundation of the first reactor unit.

The project envisions the construction of an integrated nuclear power plant, which is expected to become one of the key joint energy initiatives between Russia and Uzbekistan.

In September 2025, Uzatom and Rosatom agreed on an updated configuration of the project. It includes two large units based on VVER-1000 Generation III+ reactors and two small modular reactors of the RITM-200N type.

The total installed capacity of the future plant is expected to exceed 2.1 GW, with about 2 GW from the large-scale segment and approximately 110 MW from the small nuclear plant.

Preparatory work is already underway in the Jizzakh region, including excavation for the small modular reactor site. Initial concrete works have also been carried out to form the foundation of the reactor building.