Uzbekistan is considering the US small modular reactor (SMR) technologies, the Director of the UzAtom Agency Azim Akhmedkhadjaev said today.
According to him, a Memorandum of Understanding on the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy was signed in New York on September 26 between the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan and the US State Department. The document opened opportunities for exchange of experience and industrial cooperation.
"During President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's visit to the United States from November 4-6, these agreements were further developed. We confirmed our interest in studying US-made small modular reactor technologies, in particular certified designs from companies such as Holtec, GE Hitachi, and NuScale. These developments are currently at the forefront of global nuclear energy," Akhmedkhadjaev underscored.
According to him, Uzbekistan continues to adhere to the policy of diversifying partnerships and technologies in the nuclear energy sector.
"Thus, Uzbekistan continues its multi-vector policy." "We are building small nuclear power plants with Russia based on RITM-200N reactors, considering large VVER-1000 reactors, and collaborating with China on SMRs and uranium reprocessing. Studying American technologies is a natural step in diversifying our efforts to select the most reliable and cost-effective solutions for the country's growing economy," emphasized the head of Uzatom.
As part of the agreement with the US, educational initiatives are planned, including training specialists and holding joint seminars. These steps will allow Uzbekistan to evaluate promising technologies in advance.
"This step will be a preparatory phase. As soon as reference samples of American SMRs are available, Uzatom’s experts will conduct a detailed analysis and assess the feasibility of their use in Uzbekistan. This will help us ensure a stable energy supply in the face of the projected growth in power consumption by 2050," added Azim Akhmedkhadzhaev.
He emphasized that Uzbekistan was open to cooperation with various countries and companies offering advanced solutions. "Such steps enhance Uzbekistan's energy independence and contribute to global clean energy goals," he concluded.
On November 7, the US State Department published details of several agreements reached following talks between Uzbek and US Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Donald Trump in Washington. These included Uzbekistan's commitment to purchase small nuclear modular reactors from American energy companies. Uzatom's press service stated that Uzbekistan had no such commitment.
Azim Akhmedkhadzhayev previously reported that many global companies were actively developing their own small modular reactor technologies. He cited the Chinese company CNNC, which is completing construction of a 100 MW small modular reactor, as an example.
At the end of September, Uzbekistan and Russia signed documents defining the configuration of a future nuclear power plant in the Jizzakh province. The parties also agreed on the supply of nuclear fuel for the reactors.
In October, excavation work began for the first reactor of the small-scale nuclear power plant, and the project is now entering the construction phase. The power units are scheduled to be launched in 2029–2035. The simultaneous deployment of the small- and large-scale nuclear power plants is expected to provide the "most economical option in terms of megawatt-hours."
The small-scale nuclear power plant will be based on the Russian RITM-200N pressurized water reactor, which was used in nuclear icebreakers. However, a land-based nuclear power plant with these reactors has not yet been built and is not a reference (tested) model. Furthermore, Uzbekistan will become the first country in the world to co-locate a small and large nuclear power plant on the same site.
