President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a report on the development of nuclear energy in the country, Gazeta.uz reports.
According to the report, electricity production in Uzbekistan has increased by 30% over the past five years, reaching 81.5 billion kWh, due to the implementation of several major energy projects. To meet the growing demand, renewable energy sources are also being developed, now accounting for 16% of total generation, with an additional 3.2 GW of capacity introduced last year.
“Special attention is being given to strategic planning and preparation for future challenges. According to estimates, by 2035, the country’s electricity consumption will reach 121 billion kWh. In this regard, measures are being taken to develop energy across all sectors,” the report states.
By 2030, Uzbekistan aims to increase the share of green energy to 54% in the national energy mix. At the same time, nuclear energy is considered a key long-term source.
Currently, Uzbekistan is working on a small-scale nuclear power plant (NPP) project. Working groups have held discussions to explore implementation possibilities and develop a roadmap. Additionally, a joint action plan for 2025–2027 has been established with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“Every stage of the future construction—from design to completion—will be under strict IAEA supervision, adhering to global best practices and safety standards,” the presidential press service stated.
During the meeting, President Mirziyoyev was updated on the project’s progress, negotiations with partners, regulatory approvals, and financing sources. The technical and economic feasibility of building a large-scale nuclear power plant (NPP) was also discussed.
On March 24–25, Andrey Petrov, First Deputy Director General for Nuclear Energy at Rosatom and President of Atomstroyexport, visited Tashkent.
During his visit, a special task force meeting was held to discuss the small-scale NPP construction project, including nuclear fuel supply and staff training. Discussions also covered potential locations for a large-scale NPP, alongside technical and strategic assessments for sustainable energy infrastructure development.
In an interview with the YouTube channel Alter Ego, Azim Akhmedkhadjaev, Director of the Uzbekistan Atomic Energy Agency ("Uzatom"), stated that Uzbekistan needs large nuclear power plants to meet its energy demands.
He agreed with Professor Isobek Kholbaev from the National University of Uzbekistan, who suggested that the country needs four large nuclear power plants to fully cover its electricity demand.
"Considering the trends and consumption levels we see annually, we indeed need large NPPs for this purpose," Akhmedkhadjaev emphasized, adding that the estimated cost of a large NPP with two power units is around $6 billion.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
March 27, 2025