Uzbekistan can localize the production of nuclear fuel for its first domestic nuclear power plant (NPP), Uzdaily.uz reports.
This was stated by the head of the British New Nuclear Watch Institute (NNWI) representation in Central Asia, Baurzhan Ibraev, during a seminar in Mersin, Turkey.
In 2017, Uzbekistan announced plans to build an NPP. Uzbekistan and "Rosatom" will enter into negotiations on the construction of the station. The project involves the construction of a nuclear power plant with VVER-1200 type reactors with a capacity of 1.2 GW each in the Jizzakh region.
Baurzhan Ibraev noted that Uzbekistan's competencies in the field of nuclear energy were 5 times lower than Kazakhstan's in 2017. Now, according to him, Uzbekistan's competencies are twice as high as Kazakhstan's.
He mentioned that Uzbekistan will soon sign a contract for the construction of the NPP. He added that Uzbekistan also plans to localize the production of fuel in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is also considering the organization of recycling of spent nuclear fuel, according to Ibraev.
The cost of natural uranium is constantly rising. Therefore, spent nuclear fuel will soon be introduced into circulation at NPPs. In his opinion, countries with recycling technology will be ahead of the entire planet. Today, only Russia and France possess these technologies. "If Uzbekistan joins them, it will be a very high competence for them," noted Baurzhan Ibraev.
For the supply of nuclear fuel to other NPPs, Uzbekistan will need to obtain permission from "Rosatom," said Baurzhan Ibraev. In his opinion, Uzbekistan may obtain such a right to supply fuel to future nuclear power plants in Central Asia.
NNWI conducted a seminar for journalists from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Egypt on the development of atomic and renewable energy. The seminar took place in Mersin, Turkey. "Rosatom" is building Turkey's first NPP in the province of Mersin.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
December 18, 2023