Uzbekistan plans to complete foundations of small reactors by 2026

The CEO of the state corporation Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, visited the construction site of the integrated nuclear power plant in the Jizzakh region of Uzbekistan. During the visit, he familiarized himself with the current status of the work, where concrete pouring for the foundation slab of the first small-scale power unit has been underway since June 4, 2026.

Currently, the process of concreting the reactor building's foundation slab is ongoing at the site, utilizing 25 units of equipment. It is planned that the construction of the foundation slab for the reactor section of the first power unit will be completed by the end of 2026, which will require pouring 10,000 cubic meters of concrete.

Alexey Likhachev noted that this stage is the fundamental basis for such a large-scale project, which holds immense significance both for the energy and economy of Uzbekistan, as well as for strengthening ties between Russia and Uzbekistan. He emphasized that this is not just about building a nuclear power plant, but about creating a modern scientific and industrial cluster and an atomic city.

A future city for atomic industry workers is also planned in the region. It is expected that over 30 thousand specialists and their families will live in this 'atomic city'. Furthermore, an industrial cluster will be formed within a 25-kilometer radius of the NPP construction site.

This station is being built under the world's first export contract for the construction of an integrated nuclear power plant. The project involves integrating two large-capacity power units, each with a capacity of 1,000 MW, and two small-capacity power units of 55 MW each. After reaching its design capacity, the station should provide electricity generation at a level of 17.2 billion kWh annually.

The nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan represents a unique project for the state corporation Rosatom, as it is being implemented under the world's first export contract for the construction of a small modular nuclear power plant (SMR). Cooperation was expanded after the signing of an intergovernmental protocol amending the intergovernmental agreement from 2018, which took place on May 27, 2024. This protocol concerned the construction of SMRs in Uzbekistan and was accompanied by a corresponding contract.

An additional agreement to the contract, providing for the construction of the integrated NPP in Uzbekistan, was signed by the parties on March 24, 2026. Previously, on September 26, 2025, in Moscow, during the international forum 'World Atomic Week', documents were signed to expand the partnership between Rosatom and the Atomic Energy Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 'Uzatom.'

The solemn ceremony marking the start of construction of the first power unit of the integrated NPP in the Farish district of the Jizzakh region of Uzbekistan took place on June 4, 2026. This event was marked by the pouring of the 'first concrete' into the foundation slab of the future small-scale NPP as part of the integrated project. The ceremony was broadcast via telebridge between the construction site in Uzbekistan and St. Petersburg, where the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev granted permission for the construction of the first power unit.

Russia continues to actively develop its international trade and economic relations, paying special attention to interaction with friendly states. Rosatom and its enterprises contribute significantly to increasing the export potential of the domestic economy through the supply of goods, services, and raw materials worldwide.