Enter Engineering has been appointed as a subcontractor for the construction of Uzbekistan's first nuclear power plant, the press service of the Atomic Energy Agency (Uzatom) said.

The project's general contractor is the Russian state corporation Rosatom, in charge of technology, safety standards, and the organization of all construction phases.

Enter Engineering has been selected to handle the on-site construction work.

"Enter Engineering is one of the largest construction companies in Uzbekistan, with its own fleet of vehicles, qualified specialists, and design institutes. This means the company can handle the entire range of necessary work," underscored Abdujamil Kalmuratov, chief of the Nuclear Power Plant Construction Management Company, during a press tour of the future plant site in the Farish District of Jizzakh province.

According to him, the subcontracting was awarded through a competitive bidding process (although the list of participants has not been disclosed). Enter Engineering is already building a temporary worker's camp; journalists were shown residential buildings with suitable living conditions.

Abdujamil Kalmuratov assured that there would be no problems with unpaid wages to workers at the plant's construction site (workers of Eriell, Enter Engineering, Saneg, and Air Samarkand, whose beneficial owners are linked, previously reported wage arrears).

Meanwhile, the Uzbek side shall not interfere with subcontractor selection process on behalf of the general contractor, Atomstroyexport, a subsidiary of Rosatom, and does not provide guarantees for them, according to Spot.

According to the management company's chief, construction will require significant human resources:

"Overall, approximately 20,000 people are planned to be involved in various phases of construction, and approximately 70% of them will be our specialists. This is already stipulated in the agreements with the Russian side," Kalmuratov said in an interview with Podrobno.uz.

Funding for the preparatory work is being provided from the national budget, ensuring the project is completed on time. The project cost has not yet been disclosed.

Engineering zones are also being set up at the future nuclear power plant site, logistics routes are being established, and an assembly base for large structures and equipment is being created.

The project is being implemented in three phases:

• Phase I involves the erecting of RITM-200N integrated reactors with a capacity of 55 MW. These reactors are designed for a 60-year service life, operate on low-enriched uranium, and feature an integrated design that integrates the core, steam generators, and circulation pumps. This reduces the risk of leaks and improves safety.
• Phases II and III involve the erecting of VVER-1000 reactors with a capacity of 1000 MW each. They are equipped with a core catcher, passive heat removal systems, and can operate safely for up to 72 hours after an emergency shutdown. Dry fan cooling towers will be used for cooling. As a reminder, in August, Uzatom CEO Azim Akhmedkhadzhayev announced that the pouring of the first concrete (i.e., the start of construction of the plant itself) was scheduled for March 2026, and the president ordered an expedited deadline.

Uzbekistan and Russia signed an agreement for small- and large-scale nuclear power plant projects on the same site. The Deputy PM Jamshid Khodzhayev underscored that a 2 GW nuclear power plant and a 110 MW small-scale nuclear power plant are planned in Uzbekistan's Jizzakh Province.

Azim Akhmedkhadzhayev confirmed that Uzbekistan intended to develop an integrated nuclear energy model. He also announced that public hearings on the construction of the nuclear power plant would soon begin.

What is known about Enter Engineering

The company was founded in 2012. Since then, it has implemented virtually all major projects involving the state, particularly in the energy sector. The company's recent projects include the reconstruction and construction project of the Imam Al-Bukhari Memorial Complex, the Copper Processing Plant No. 3 project with a full production cycle at the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine (AMMC), the Uzbekistan GTL liquefied gas plant project, the new airport and tourist center in Samarkand project, the Boysun Gas Processing Plant project (Mustaqillikning 25 yilligi) (a gas leak occurred at this field), and others.

The oil and gas company Saneg established its subsidiary Saneg Atom in early 2024. The company's press service reported last October that it was analyzing the current situation regarding the development of nuclear energy in Uzbekistan "with the aim of discussing opportunities for participation in this area."