Rosatom - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 25

Nuclear Energy

Uzbekistan Plans Second Nuclear Power Plant Before First Is Ready

Uzbekistan will soon begin preparations for the construction of a second nuclear power plant (NPP), President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced during an August 17 visit to Khorezm region. The announcement came a little more than two months after construction officially began on the country’s first NPP. The authorities have not yet disclosed where the new plant will be located or how much capacity it will have. They have also not named a technology partner. Discussing energy in connection with new industrial projects, Mirziyoyev said investors need an acceptable electricity price and a guarantee of uninterrupted supply. Uzbekistan is building its first NPP with the participation of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom. On June 4, first concrete was poured for the foundation of the first unit of the integrated NPP in Farish district, Jizzakh region, officially marking the start of construction. Mirziyoyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the project by video link. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi also participated in the ceremony. The project itself has changed considerably over the past two years. In 2024, Uzbekistan and Russia agreed to build a small nuclear power plant with six RITM-200N reactors, each with a capacity of 55 MW. Tashkent later decided to combine small modular and large-scale nuclear generation at a single site. Under the current configuration, the Jizzakh project will have two large VVER-1000 units and two small RITM-200N units. The complex will have a total capacity of 2.11 GW and is expected to generate about 15.4 billion kWh of electricity annually. The first small reactor is expected to come online in 2029. The first large unit could begin operating in 2033, with the entire complex expected to be commissioned by 2035. Plans for a second NPP come as electricity demand is rising rapidly. Uzbekistan’s 2020–2030 electricity plan aimed to raise annual generation from 63.6 billion kWh to 120.8 billion kWh by 2030. A more recent government forecast puts electricity consumption at 121 billion kWh by 2035. Some of the growing demand is expected to be met by solar and wind power. Nuclear energy is intended to provide baseload generation, including for industry. Mirziyoyev specifically linked preparations for the second plant to investors’ need for a stable electricity supply. Uzbekistan is therefore expanding its nuclear program before its first reactor has entered operation. The country is continuing to develop the infrastructure and expertise needed for the new industry. Following a June review, the IAEA said Uzbekistan had made significant progress but needed to complete work on its nuclear regulatory body and finalize feasibility studies. So far, Mirziyoyev has said only that preparations for the second NPP will begin. Its cost, timetable, capacity, and technology have not been announced, nor has a potential contractor been named. The first NPP involves long-term cooperation with Russia’s nuclear industry. Rosatom is participating in the project, which will use its reactor technology. Mirziyoyev said in June that Uzbekistan planned further nuclear power projects with Russia, but whether the same model will be used for the second plant or Tashkent will consider...

Nuclear power

Central Asia’s Nuclear Push: Uzbekistan Starts Construction as Kazakhstan Plans at Least Three Plants

Uzbekistan has poured concrete for its first nuclear power plant, while Kazakhstan has signed a $16.5 billion agreement for a two-reactor facility near Lake Balkhash and approved a site for a second plant. Kazakhstan's long-term strategy calls for at least three nuclear power plants by 2050, with a fourth possible. Both governments are presenting nuclear power as a way to meet rapidly growing electricity demand and strengthen energy security. Yet the projects are advancing at different speeds and are reviving questions over water use, cross-border safety, financing, and long-term reliance on Russian technology and credit. Uzbekistan Moves Into Construction On June 4, 2026, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin launched construction by video link. Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, also took part. The first nuclear-grade concrete was poured overnight from June 4 to June 5 for the foundation slab of the first RITM-200N small modular reactor unit in the Forish district of the Jizzakh region. Uzatom subsequently classified the site as a nuclear power plant under construction. The facility is one plant with four planned reactor units: two large VVER-1000 units and two smaller RITM-200N units, each rated at 55 MW. Together, they would provide more than 2.1 GW of installed capacity. The present configuration is the latest version of a project that began with a 2017 peaceful-use agreement and a 2018 plan for two large reactors. In 2024, the focus shifted to six small reactors, before the design changed again in 2025 to the mixed large-and-small format now under construction. Uzbek and Russian projections put annual generation at about 17 billion kWh, or roughly 15% of future national demand. The current schedule envisages the first small unit reaching criticality in late 2029, with the large reactors expected to be commissioned in 2033 and 2035, although Uzatom has said final dates depend on outstanding contract arrangements. The project's stated base price is $9.5 billion, and Tashkent is seeking loans for most of the cost. Those financing terms, along with the final allocation of construction and operating risk, remain central to the project's viability. Water and Cross-Border Concerns The plant will stand near Lake Tuzkon in the Aydar-Arnasay lake system, about 40 kilometers from Kazakhstan's border. That proximity has made what is formally an Uzbek project a regional issue. Residents and environmental advocates in southern Kazakhstan have raised concerns about accident preparedness, radioactive waste, and possible pressure on already stressed water systems. Aiman Tleulesova, national coordinator of the Central Asian Regional Water Network, has argued that reactor cooling could require greater discharges into Lake Tuzkon and additional withdrawals linked to the Syr Darya system. In her assessment, that could intensify competition for irrigation water in Kazakhstan's Turkestan and Kyzylorda regions. These are concerns raised by specialists and campaigners, rather than established measurements of the completed plant's impact, but they require a quantified response because water scarcity is already a recurring regional problem. Uzbekistan held public hearings on the environmental impact assessment in...

Nuclear Energy

Uzbekistan Begins Construction of First Nuclear Power Plant

Uzbekistan has started building its first nuclear power plant, turning a project discussed for nearly a decade into one of the largest energy commitments in the country's post-Soviet history. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin launched construction on June 4 by video link from Saint Petersburg. The plant site in the Forish district of the Jizzakh region was connected to the ceremony. Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, also took part. The first concrete pour began overnight from June 4 to June 5 for the foundation slab of the plant's first small modular unit. The first stage used 133 cubic meters of concrete. The full pour is expected to exceed 10,000 cubic meters. Uzatom gave the site the official status of a nuclear power plant under construction under IAEA standards. The plan is no longer the modest small-reactor scheme agreed in 2024. The current design combines two large VVER-1000 reactors with two smaller RITM-200N units. Together, they would give the Jizzakh plant more than 2.1 GW of installed capacity. The small and large units will share one site and supporting infrastructure. That shift raised both the scale and the financial and regulatory stakes. This design is the latest version of a plan that has changed several times. Uzbekistan and Russia signed an intergovernmental agreement on peaceful nuclear cooperation in 2017. In 2018, Rosatom was expected to build two VVER-1200 reactors. The focus later shifted to Jizzakh. In May 2024, Uzbekistan and Rosatom signed a contract for a 330 MW small nuclear plant with six RITM-200N reactors. The plan changed again in 2025, when Tashkent and Moscow settled on the larger mixed-reactor format now under construction. The timetable shows how long the project will take before Uzbekistan gets power from it. The first RITM-200N unit is listed for criticality in late 2029, with the two larger VVER-1000 reactors expected in 2033 and 2035. The push reflects Uzbekistan's fast-rising demand for power. The International Energy Agency says the country's 2020-2030 electricity concept aims to lift generation from 63.6 billion kWh to 120.8 billion kWh by 2030, while cutting gas use in power generation. Uzbekistan produced 86.7 billion kWh in 2025. Renewable power is growing, but officials want a steady baseload supply for industry and cities. Uzbek and Russian estimates put full annual output at about 17 billion kWh. Putin put the future share at up to 15% of Uzbekistan's electricity use, with Reuters also placing the expected contribution at around 15% of demand. Those figures depend on the timing of each unit and on future consumption, which is still rising. Financing is now one of the central questions. Uzatom director Azim Akhmedkhadjaev put the project's base price at $9.5 billion and described that figure as the maximum contract amount. The estimate does not include planned localization, which Uzbekistan wants to raise to 30%. Tashkent wants loans to cover 85-90% of the project and may discuss funding with the New Development Bank and other partners. Russia...

Nuclear power

Mirziyoyev, Putin to Mark Launch of Uzbekistan Nuclear Plant Project

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will travel to St. Petersburg on June 4-5 for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and a ceremony marking the launch of Uzbekistan’s first integrated nuclear power plant project. Mirziyoyev is also due to address the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, according to the Uzbek president’s press service. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said the two leaders would join the launch ceremony by video link before holding talks at the Konstantinovsky Palace on the evening of June 4. The project has become one of the main energy initiatives in Uzbek-Russian cooperation. According to Russian officials, the planned facility in the Jizzakh region will include two large-capacity power units as well as two smaller units with a capacity of 55 megawatts each. The launch ceremony is expected to involve senior international and industry officials. Ushakov said that Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Alexey Likhachev, director general of Rosatom, and Azim Akhmedkhadzhaev, head of Uzbekistan’s Uzatom agency, will participate from the construction site. Following remarks by the two presidents and Grossi, Russian and Uzbek nuclear officials are expected to report on technical readiness for the first concrete pouring at the site, formally launching construction work. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that initial concrete works began at the Jizzakh site in March, when Uzatom and Rosatom signed documents moving the project into practical implementation.

Driverless Freight

Kazakhstan and Russia Launch Driverless Freight Transport Route

Kazakhstan and Russia have launched a pilot project for driverless freight transportation between the two countries, marking a new stage in the digitalization of Eurasian logistics and cross-border transport infrastructure. Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the launch during a press conference following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Commenting on the results of the negotiations, Tokayev said that transport connectivity plays a crucial role for both neighboring countries in delivering goods to domestic and international markets. He added that Kazakhstan and Russia are actively developing transcontinental transport corridors along both the North-South and East-West routes as part of wider efforts to strengthen Eurasian connectivity. “It is encouraging that systematic measures are being taken to optimize tariffs, simplify administrative procedures, and modernize border infrastructure, resulting in steady growth in cargo transportation volumes,” Tokayev said. He also said that freight volumes between the two countries reached approximately 92 million tons last year, an increase of nearly 3.5%. “We plan to continue increasing these indicators, including through the introduction of advanced digital solutions and artificial intelligence technologies. A clear example is today’s launch of driverless freight vehicles between our countries,” Tokayev added. Speaking on the sidelines of the Eurasian Economic Forum, Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Transport Damir Kozhakhmetov told the Russian news agency TASS that the first test routes are operating between Astana and Moscow. “As part of cooperation between our two countries, we are integrating our digital solutions in order to move from traditional systems into a new era of autonomous transportation,” Kozhakhmetov said. “Two trucks departed simultaneously from Moscow and Astana and crossed the border checkpoint. This demonstrated that we are already infrastructurally prepared to move to a new level of cooperation,” he added. Earlier, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev said Russia and Kazakhstan were prepared to establish permanent driverless freight routes as early as this year. Tokayev said the innovative transport initiative reflects the broader quality of bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Russia. “In conditions of continuing turbulence in global politics, stable and predictable models of interstate partnership acquire special value,” the president said. “Relations between Kazakhstan and Russia have stood the test of time and are now successfully responding to the challenges of a new era.” According to Tokayev, bilateral cooperation is based on large-scale projects that provide practical benefits for both countries, while stable trade and economic ties continue to support growth across key sectors of their economies. He noted that bilateral trade turnover in the agricultural sector alone has increased by approximately $1 billion over the past five years. Investment cooperation has also continued to expand. Tokayev said Russia has become the largest source of foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan, with total Russian investments exceeding $29 billion. “At the same time, Kazakh investments in the Russian economy have reached $9 billion, which is also a strong indicator,” Tokayev said. According to the president, more than 20,000 companies with Russian participation currently operate in Kazakhstan. Tokayev also highlighted energy cooperation as another example of successful bilateral partnership,...

Environmental Protection

Rosatom to Neutralize Hazardous Chemical Waste at Plant in Kyrgyzstan

Rosatom is set to begin work to eliminate hazardous chemicals stockpiled at the Kristall plant in Tash-Kumyr, in Kyrgyzstan’s Jalal-Abad region. The Kristall plant, built in 1989 as a key facility of the Soviet electronics industry to produce polycrystalline silicon, has since become a high-risk environmental site. Hazardous chemical waste accumulated on its premises poses a threat to both the environment and public health. The plant has been bankrupt since 2010. The site contains 49 tanks holding a total of 155 tons of hazardous chemical residues, including trichlorosilane and silicon tetrachloride. In October 2024, Rosatom conducted a technical audit of the facility, revealing the deteriorated condition of the storage tanks. Prolonged inactivity has left the aging infrastructure in poor shape, increasing the risk of structural failure and depressurization. On April 14, in Bishkek, Rosatom and the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency Situations discussed technological solutions for neutralizing the chemicals. According to Rosatom, the first phase of the cleanup is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. This stage will focus on bringing the chemical storage tanks to a safe condition. It also involves the installation of a dual emergency protection system and the introduction of independent environmental monitoring. The proposed neutralization methods have been approved by the Kyrgyz Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision. By the end of 2026, Rosatom aims to eliminate the risk of leaks and uncontrolled emissions by stabilizing the tanks and ensuring safe conditions for further handling of the hazardous substances. In 2027, the project will enter its second phase, focusing on the on-site neutralization of the chemicals as the preferred solution. Kyrgyz Emergency Situations Minister Kanatbek Chynybayev said the situation at the Kristall plant remains environmentally challenging and requires a comprehensive response. “Our primary objective is to eliminate potential health risks to residents of Tash-Kumyr and lift the state of emergency in the area. Rosatom’s expertise has been engaged to address this issue. As part of this collaboration, a technological strategy has been developed that will allow the threats to be neutralized within the specified timeframe and return the site to a safe condition,” he said.