Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The nuclear power project in Uzbekistan, implemented in cooperation with Russian state corporation Rosatom, has been restructured and expanded to include both small-scale and large-scale nuclear facilities, according to the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

"Last year marked the launch of a small modular nuclear power plant (SMR) project. This year, following agreements reached at the level of the heads of state, a decision was made to expand the cooperation format to include the construction of both a two-unit large-scale nuclear power plant and a two-unit SMR facility," the ministry stated.

As previously noted by Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev, the company expects to begin pouring the first concrete for the SMR in Uzbekistan as early as next year, possibly sooner. Regarding the larger NPP, Likhachev affirmed that once the government of Uzbekistan gives the green light, Rosatom will be ready to present a comprehensive package, including a technical concept, financial model, and localized implementation strategy.

The SMR project in Uzbekistan is set to become Rosatom’s first export initiative of this kind. The agreement was reached in spring 2024, with a formal protocol signed in autumn, authorizing the start of design and engineering work.

The SMR plant will consist of six reactor units, each with a capacity of 55 MW. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2025, with phased commissioning between 2029 and 2033.

According to Likhachev, the Uzbek side will fully finance the project, and the option of a Russian loan is not currently under consideration, as reported by Interfax.