Rosatom and UzAtom signed documents at the World Atomic Week international forum to expand cooperation in the nuclear sector. The parties agreed on a new configuration for the nuclear power plant project in Uzbekistan.
The nuclear power plant will have two large power units equipped with Generation III+ VVER-1000 reactors (1,000 MW each), as well as two small power units with RITM-200N reactors (55 MW each). Rosatom and UzAtom also signed term sheets for the contracts to supply fuel for both the large and small nuclear reactors.
“We are launching an unprecedented energy project in the very heart of Uzbekistan, in the Jizzakh Region. We are not just building the region’s first nuclear power plant — we are pioneering an innovative solution for the future. Our project boldly combines cutting-edge small modular reactor technologies with time-tested large-scale nuclear energy solutions,” said Azim Akhmedkhadjaev, Director of UzAtom.
Speaking at the forum’s plenary session, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev recalled that the country had extensive experience in nuclear industry development and produced over 3,500 tonnes of uranium annually. “For us, this project is not just a step toward energy independence but also a model of strategic cooperation with Russia. Thanks to Rosatom’s expertise and technologies, we can build our nuclear plant to a design that has no counterpart in the region. This is another opportunity for our Russian partners to demonstrate the effectiveness of their solutions in practice and lay the groundwork for joint manufacturing, workforce training, and scientific research. This nuclear power plant will become a symbol of Uzbekistan’s new industrialization and a solid foundation for strategic partnership between our countries for decades to come,” Khodjaev affirmed.
Small nuclear power plants
The advantages of nuclear generation facilities with small modular reactors (SMRs) were among the key topics at the World Atomic Week. Rosatom’s SMR projects are being implemented both in Russia and in Uzbekistan.
Sergey Generalov, Yakutia SNPP Project Director at AtomStroyExport, emphasized the transformative potential of SMRs for remote regions. “Hard-to-reach areas with harsh climates and geographically isolated territories receive a powerful boost for social, industrial, and economic development. Advanced nuclear technologies ensure reliable SMR operation for decades,” he said.
Pavel Bezrukov, Vice President and Uzbekistan NPP Project Director at AtomStroyExport, added: “This is not just a design — it is a proven and effective technological solution. RITM-200 reactors have successfully operated for years aboard nuclear icebreakers. Adapted to meet onshore requirements, it is now the key technology for future SMR power units. By the end of this year, our design institutes will finalize the design of SMR units for the Uzbekistan project, and we will move into the main implementation phase in 2026.”
Forum attendees also had the opportunity to explore Rosatom’s standard SMR design in virtual reality. Developed by engineers from AtomStroyExport and AtomEnergoProekt (both part of Rosatom’s Engineering Division), the VR experience showcases the SMR’s core solutions, safety systems, and one-of-a-kind layout features.
Alexander Merten, Senior Vice President for International Business Development at AtomStroyExport, noted: “We offer our partners highly flexible and transparent cooperation models that include extensive involvement of local industry, guaranteed fuel supply, end-to-end lifecycle support, and personnel training. Combined with the highest safety standards and competitive pricing, this approach secures our leading position in the international market.”
Photo by: Strana Rosatom newspaper, Rosatom
