Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The state corporation "Rosatom" participated in the International Scientific and Practical Conference titled "Challenges and Prospects for the Development of Nuclear Energy in Uzbekistan," held on 15 October at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED). The main topic of the conference was the discussion of plans for establishing nuclear energy in the country.

The event brought together international experts from Russia, France, Hungary, Turkey, South Africa, Serbia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Participants included the First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, UWED Rector Sodik Safayev, Director of the Agency "Uzatom" Azim Akhmedkhodjaev, Director of Nuclear Projects at Assystem (France) Barish Guner, nuclear energy expert Zolt Harfash (Hungary), and Chairman of the Kazakhstan Association of Energy Saving Companies Sergey Agafonov (Kazakhstan), among others.

Experts discussed global experience in using nuclear energy, integrating nuclear energy into Uzbekistan’s energy balance, and applying nuclear technologies in non-energy sectors. During the panel discussion, Azim Akhmedkhodjaev, Director of the Agency "Uzatom," presented a report on the prospects for implementing a small modular reactor (SMR) project. He highlighted that SMRs are stable energy sources with high safety indicators, easy adaptability to energy systems, and the possibility of construction near consumers due to their smaller footprint and exclusion zone.

Andrey Petrov, First Deputy General Director for Nuclear Energy at Rosatom, spoke about the development of nuclear energy in Russia and abroad, as well as the status of the project for constructing Uzbekistan’s first small modular nuclear power plant. He reported that the contract for construction was signed in May of this year, and the project is currently in an active implementation phase with preliminary design work underway.

On the same day, the second meeting of the Headquarters for the construction of SMRs in Uzbekistan took place, discussing the status of completed work under the contract, the specifics of contracting physical protection systems for the project, and the work plan until the end of 2024.

Uzbekistan plans to build its first small modular nuclear power plant with six RITM-200N reactor units. The contract for the construction of the SMR was concluded on May 27, 2024, with Rosatom serving as the general contractor. A protocol was signed on September 10, 2024, to initiate work on the project by the Directorate for Nuclear Power Plant Construction at the Agency "Uzatom" and the Engineering Division of Rosatom.