Uzbekistan, Russia Launch Construction of First Nuclear Power Unit

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin took part in a ceremony marking the launch of construction of the first power unit of Uzbekistan’s integrated nuclear power plant.

The event was held via a teleconference link with the participation of Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

During the ceremony, the Uzbek president expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi for their support in implementing the project. He also acknowledged the contribution of specialists from both countries involved in building Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant.

According to Mirziyoyev, the project marks the beginning of a new stage in the country’s technological, industrial and scientific development and lays the foundation for the emergence of nuclear energy as a new sector of the national economy.

He noted that the integrated nuclear power plant will combine modern solutions in both small modular nuclear generation and large-scale baseload energy production.

Particular attention was given to safety issues. It was emphasized that construction and preparations for the plant’s operation are being carried out in full compliance with international standards, using advanced engineering technologies and under the continuous oversight of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The President of Uzbekistan expressed confidence that the implementation of the large-scale energy project would become an important factor in further strengthening the Uzbek-Russian strategic partnership, expanding industrial cooperation and promoting the development of high-tech sectors of the economy.