Rosatom: Uzbekistan’s Nuclear Power Plant Project Attracts Interest from Foreign Investors

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Foreign investors are showing interest in Rosatom’s project to construct both large- and small-scale nuclear power plants in Uzbekistan, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachyov stated in an interview with Russia-24.

According to Likhachyov, the Uzbek project is being viewed as an international demonstration platform, combining power units of varying capacities, optimized capital expenditure, increased flexibility in electricity generation management, and a consumer-oriented power supply model. “Our Uzbek project will serve as a kind of global showcase. Foreign investors are paying attention to it — third countries are ready to participate in its implementation,” he noted.

The Rosatom head also revealed that the corporation has proposed creating an “atomic cluster” at the future NPP site. This concept encompasses not only the construction of energy facilities but also the development of a multifunctional scientific and technological hub.

Within the cluster, plans include the advancement of nuclear medicine, radiological technologies for agriculture, healthcare, and materials science. Likhachyov emphasized that the Kurchatov Institute, a leading scientific organization in Russia’s nuclear sector, will be involved in implementing the concept. The project therefore envisions the creation of not merely a plant-adjacent town but a full-fledged innovative nuclear cluster.

Furthermore, Alexey Likhachyov stated that work on the site for the small reactors within Uzbekistan’s NPP project is expected to begin well before December 2026. He explained that the so-called “first concrete” milestone is not merely a construction stage but a regulated event requiring the acquisition of necessary licenses, permits, and qualifications, including approval for local manufacturers. “Our plan is to complete this stage significantly earlier than December, although much will depend on the client’s readiness and the completion of all procedural requirements,” Likhachyov stressed.

The NPP project in Uzbekistan involves constructing two large-capacity units of 1,000 MW each and two small-capacity units of 55 MW. This will mark Rosatom’s first experience building small nuclear power plants abroad.

Initially, Rosatom planned to build six small reactors of 55 MW each in Uzbekistan; however, the project concept was subsequently revised. According to Likhachyov, the new configuration will optimize capital costs and make the generated electricity more competitive and attractive for consumers.

In autumn 2025, Rosatom announced plans to develop design documentation for the small-scale NPP in Uzbekistan and submit it to the client for review by the end of the year. The parties expect to begin pouring the “first concrete” for the first small reactor in spring 2026.

At the end of 2025, Uzbekistan’s Uzatom agency also reported negotiations with the Hungarian company MVM EGI Zrt regarding potential participation in the construction of the nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan.