Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  Central Asia, encompassing Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia, has the potential to emerge as one of the global leaders in the pace of nuclear power deployment, according to a report by the British energy think tank New Nuclear Watch Institute (NNWI), cited by TASS.

“Central Asia has all the necessary conditions to rank among the world’s top ten regions in terms of nuclear power capacity expansion, including innovative small modular reactors (SMRs). Following East and South Asia, which are setting records in nuclear generation primarily thanks to China, India, and Russia, Central Asia could surpass Europe and the United States in the number of reactors brought online,” said Tim Yeo, the head of the research center.

Yeo emphasized that unlike some OECD countries, where nuclear companies face political uncertainty, stringent administrative regulations, and challenges in accessing preferential financing, Central Asia has the opportunity to establish favorable conditions for advancing nuclear programs. This would provide an economically efficient path for energy transition, economic growth, and sustainable development.

According to Yeo, if Uzbekistan’s low-capacity nuclear power plant, under construction using Russia’s RITM-200 technology, is connected to the grid as scheduled, it could become the world’s first successfully implemented export project in the field of small modular reactors (SMRs).

“Despite numerous agreements of intent for SMR construction, delays in licensing and financing—especially for innovative reactors—mean that the only operational project to date is Russia’s floating nuclear power plant ‘Akademik Lomonosov.’ China, with its ACP100 project, is expected to become the second country to operate SMRs in the next year or two, outpacing the United States and Europe,” Yeo added.