Uzbekistan building the region's first low-power nuclear facility

Uzbekistan will develop Central Asia's first low-power nuclear facility using Russian technology. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the building start-up contract in Uzbekistan on May 27, Kazinform correspondent in Tashkent Alikhan Askar reports.

Experts expect Uzbekistan's electricity demand to triple by 2050, needing new energy sources for economic stability. Uzbekistan's Atomic Energy Agency Director Azim Akhmedkhadzhaev stated that expanding partnership with Rosatom would help enhance the energy complex with novel nuclear energy technology.

The department says Lake Tuzkan in the Jizzakh region will have six 55 MW reactors (330 MW total). Uzbek companies will build it with Russian Rosatom constructors starting this September. “The pre-selected site has been studied, its suitability and safety have been verified, which will significantly shorten the project implementation period,” the Agency said.

The Jizzakh region will have "RITM-200N" low-power reactors. The Atomic Energy Agency says these reactors use the newest Russian nuclear technologies. Each reactor produces 55 MW electricity and 190 MW thermal power with the capacity to run up to 60 years. RITM-200N reactors have been deployed and tested aboard Arctic cargo ships.

Ten RITM-200 reactors have been developed for the universal icebreakers 'Arktika', 'Siberia', 'Yakutia', and 'Chukotka' since 2012. Three western Arctic ships were ordered. An RITM-200 reactor-based nuclear power facility is being built in Ust-Kuiga, Yakutia. The Atomic Energy Agency said the first power unit will launch in 2027 and reach full capacity in 2028.

Uzbek experts say the RITM-200N reactor-based nuclear power station is safe due to multi-level processes and a containment shell. The systems will avoid mishaps and radioactive waste leaks.

Nuclear power facilities of varying capacities are built to maintain the 'energy mix' in Central Asia. Previously, Uzbekistan planned a 2.4 GW nuclear power project. Ma'no Center for Research Initiatives head Bakhtiyor Ergashev said a low-power nuclear power facility is suggested for this site.

Ergashev believes Uzbekistan's phased nuclear energy development is right. “A gradual nuclear generation plan is essential. A nuclear power plant will be built, inspected, and workers trained.” He added that Uzbekistan will be ready for high-power plant construction if these stages succeed.

The International Atomic Energy Agency also reported that additional 50 small nuclear power plant projects are currently in various stages of planning.