Rosatom Expands Uzbekistan Nuclear Project, with Major Construction Planned for 2027
Uzbekistan
Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev has reviewed construction progress at Uzbekistan’s nuclear power plant site in the Jizzakh region. The foundation slab for the first small reactor unit is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, while full-scale construction of large-capacity units is planned to begin in 2027. The project also includes a residential town for nuclear industry workers and major investments in transport and energy infrastructure.
Likhachev visited the site on October 22 alongside Aziz Akhmedkhadjaev, head of Uzbekistan’s Uzatom agency. The main construction work is currently focused on two small reactor units. Engineering surveys and design refinements are also underway for two large units, each with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts. The integrated plant is also planned to include two small reactors rated at 55 megawatts each.
Supporting infrastructure plans include approximately 388 kilometers of power lines, 39.5 kilometers of roads and 11 kilometers of railway tracks. Concrete work on the first small reactor’s foundation slab is expected to be completed by year-end. According to Likhachev, the workforce at the small-plant construction site could reach 12,000–13,000 people in 2027 during the peak construction phase.
A residential town for nuclear industry workers is being developed near the plant, with a planned population of approximately 30,000–33,000. The project includes housing, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, sports venues and cultural amenities. An industrial cluster is also planned within a 25-kilometer radius, creating an additional platform for regional economic development.
Workforce training is another major area of cooperation. Likhachev said around 350 people are studying at the Tashkent branch of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, while approximately 900 more students are enrolled at Russian universities. Training is progressing alongside design work, construction and equipment manufacturing.
The Rosatom chief also confirmed the company’s readiness to participate in the possible construction of a second nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan. The customer will decide which partner to select for the new project. Likhachev said Rosatom would offer its services and was prepared to compete for the contract. The cooperation therefore extends beyond plant construction to infrastructure development, industrial growth and the training of a skilled workforce.
Supporting infrastructure plans include approximately 388 kilometers of power lines, 39.5 kilometers of roads and 11 kilometers of railway tracks. Concrete work on the first small reactor’s foundation slab is expected to be completed by year-end. According to Likhachev, the workforce at the small-plant construction site could reach 12,000–13,000 people in 2027 during the peak construction phase.
A residential town for nuclear industry workers is being developed near the plant, with a planned population of approximately 30,000–33,000. The project includes housing, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, sports venues and cultural amenities. An industrial cluster is also planned within a 25-kilometer radius, creating an additional platform for regional economic development.
Workforce training is another major area of cooperation. Likhachev said around 350 people are studying at the Tashkent branch of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, while approximately 900 more students are enrolled at Russian universities. Training is progressing alongside design work, construction and equipment manufacturing.
The Rosatom chief also confirmed the company’s readiness to participate in the possible construction of a second nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan. The customer will decide which partner to select for the new project. Likhachev said Rosatom would offer its services and was prepared to compete for the contract. The cooperation therefore extends beyond plant construction to infrastructure development, industrial growth and the training of a skilled workforce.
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