Uzbekistan studying option of a four-unit VVER-1000 plant

Friday, 20 June 2025

The announcement came at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (see picture above), and builds on the current project to build a small modular reactor plant in the Jizzah region, featuring six of Rosatom's 55 MWe RITM-200N water-cooled reactors.

Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev said: "The Rosatom State Corporation is pleased to be a strategic partner of Uzbekistan in the development of nuclear energy ... the combination of small and large-capacity nuclear power plants can form a powerful 'carbon-free energy cluster' in Uzbekistan and become a response to the country's growing needs for electricity, as well as the basis for the development of industry and innovative industries in the country."

Azim Akhmedkhadjaev, Director of the Atomic Energy Agency, said: "We consider the construction of a high-capacity NPP as a source for creating a reliable and balanced energy system capable of covering both the current and future needs of the country for electricity - environmentally friendly energy. The signing of the agreement allows us to begin active development of the key conditions for the possibility of implementing the project for the construction of a high-capacity nuclear power plant. A joint Working Group has been created that will study the main aspects of the project and assess the cost of construction."

Kazakhstan and other announcements

Also at the forum a meeting was held between Likhachev and the Chairman of the Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Agency, Almasadam Satkaliyev, during which an Indicative Roadmap was approved for the planned new nuclear power plant in the country. The roadmap sets out an indicative timeline and also "provides for the stages of preparation and implementation of the project, including engineering and survey work, conclusion of an EPC contract and development of design documentation".

Kazakhstan announced on Monday that it had selected the Russian bid for its planned new nuclear power plant. Likhachev said: "We appreciate the trust shown by the Kazakh side to lead the international consortium that will build a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is our reliable historical partner in the nuclear industry."

Satkaliyev said: "The construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan is part of a comprehensive strategy to ensure sustainable development of the country's energy sector. We count on close and transparent cooperation with partners to ensure a high level of safety and localisation of production."

There was also an agreement on cooperation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy with Burkina Faso. Rosatom said it "forms the legal basis for comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in the field of nuclear energy and technology. Key areas of cooperation include assistance in the creation and improvement of Burkina Faso's nuclear infrastructure in accordance with international standards, regulation of nuclear and radiation safety issues, production and use of radioisotopes in industry, medicine and agriculture. In addition, the agreement provides for the development of joint projects in the field of radiation technology and nuclear medicine, as well as the training and retraining of specialists for the nuclear industry of Burkina Faso".

During a Russia-Indonesia business dialogue session there was also discussion of potential small modular reactor and floating power units. Rosatom said it "has developed and presented to the Indonesian leadership a concept for the development of nuclear energy based on both small and large capacity, and is ready to provide comprehensive support in the implementation of the country's large-scale plans for the development of the nuclear industry".