Infrastructure development for a six-unit small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan is set to commence in autumn.
This follows the signing of a protocol that brings into effect the construction contract established last month.
Site Visit and Project Acceleration
During a visit to the proposed plant site by representatives from UzAtom Atomic Energy Agency and Rosatom, a signing ceremony was held. They also inspected areas where land surveying and the establishment of a construction camp and infrastructure facilities will begin in September.
Collaboration for Clean Energy
Andrey Petrov, deputy director general of Rosatom, expressed confidence in the partnership with Uzbek authorities, emphasizing their commitment to delivering clean energy to the region. He underscored the joint effort in fulfilling contractual obligations on time and with high quality.
Prioritizing Construction and Project Team Accommodation
The creation of a residential settlement for construction and project teams was a key priority discussed and agreed upon during the site visit in the Jizzarkh region of Uzbekistan. This highlights the importance of ensuring adequate facilities for the workforce involved in this large-scale project.
SMR Plant Details and Timeline
The contract, signed in May during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit, entails the construction of a 330 MW capacity nuclear power plant comprising six RITM-200N water-cooled reactor units. Adapted from nuclear-powered icebreaker technology, these reactors have a thermal power of 190 MW or 55 MWe and a 60-year service life. The first unit is expected to go critical in late 2029, with subsequent units commissioned one by one.
Russia’s First SMR Export and Safety Standards
This project marks Russia’s first SMR export. The first land-based version of the RITM-200N reactor is currently under construction in Yakut, Russia, with the launch of its first unit anticipated in 2027. Rosatom asserts that the combination of active and passive safety systems in these SMR plants ensures the highest possible safety standards.
Additional Nuclear Power Plant Proposals
In 2017, Uzbekistan signed an agreement with Russia to build two VVER-1200 pressurized water reactors. Following the SMR plant agreement, Rosatom’s Director General Alexei Likhachev indicated in an interview that proposals for constructing a large nuclear power plant with a capacity of around 2.5 GW in Uzbekistan remain on the table.