Uzbekistan proposes joint venture to oversee first nuclear plant

September 7, 2026 at 04:25 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Uzbekistan has proposed a joint engineering venture with a foreign partner to independently oversee its first nuclear power plant in the Jizzakh region. The venture would review design and equipment and monitor construction quality, according to a September 4 report by Uzatom. The agency has not named potential foreign participants or set a timeline for establishing the venture.

Key Facts

Uzatom set out the proposal in a September 4 report, without naming potential foreign participants or a timeline.
Construction of the plant's first small modular reactor unit began on June 4 with the first concrete pour.
The project includes two VVER-1000 reactors and two small modular RITM-200N reactors at a single site.
The IAEA conducted a Phase 2 Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review follow-up mission from June 22 to 26.
More than 30 Uzbek companies are being considered to supply cables and construction materials for the plant.

Joint Venture Proposal

Uzbekistan's Atomic Energy Agency (Uzatom) proposed the joint engineering venture in a September 4 report. The venture would review the plant's design and equipment and monitor construction quality at the Jizzakh region site. Uzatom has not named potential foreign participants or said when the venture could be established. The agency also plans to use the venture to transfer technical and project-management expertise to local specialists.

Construction and Licensing

Construction formally began on June 4 with the first concrete pour for the plant's first small modular reactor unit. Foundation work is now underway at the site. The project calls for two VVER-1000 reactors and two small modular RITM-200N reactors at a single site, described by Uzbekistan as an integrated nuclear power plant. Uzatom says design work and construction of external utility networks will continue through the end of 2026. In 2027, authorities plan to order major equipment with lengthy manufacturing lead times. Licensing for the larger VVER reactors is due to continue in 2027.

Localization and Workforce

More than 30 companies in Uzbekistan are being considered to supply cables and construction materials for the plant. Uzatom estimates that locally produced goods could account for around 21%, while authorities intend to raise the share above 30%. A specialized 200-hectare industrial zone has been proposed in the Forish district, around 25 kilometers from the nuclear power plant. The zone could support production in 15 sectors and create up to 2,000 jobs. At the peak of construction, the project will require more than 10,000 workers and specialists, with authorities planning for local personnel to account for 65%–70% of the workforce. Since 2023, 216 students have graduated from the Tashkent branch of Russia's National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, and four Uzbek universities are training around 100 more specialists.