Uzbekistan progressing work on first nuclear power plant

Excavation work began in October for the pit for what will be one of the world's first small modular reactors. The planned nuclear power plant is to feature two Russian RITM-200N small modular reactors and two VVER-1000 reactors.

The president said the aim of the visit to the region was to "identify new growth points in the region and ensure their implementation … the region’s potential has grown many times over, and people's attitudes toward life and work have changed significantly".

He was told that as well as the work to excavate pits for the reactor buildings, "preparations are taking place for the construction base: levelling the area, concreting, and installing reinforcement. A temporary residential complex has been built for the construction workers".

According to the presidential news service: "Plans were presented for localising the production of construction materials required for the nuclear power plant, as well as for expanding personnel training in higher educational institutions.

"The concept for constructing a mono-city for the specialists of the future plant and their families was also shown. The town, located 16 kilometres from the plant under construction, will be designed for 10,000 residents and will include all necessary infrastructure, social facilities, and service amenities."

About 1.5 million cubic metres of soil will be excavated during the digging of a pit 13 metres deep for the RITM-200N and engineering surveys and design and preparatory works are under way, with a plan for design documentaton to be submitted for review by the end of the year. Rosatom said in October that first concrete for the initial SMR unit is expected to be poured in March 2026.

An agreement was signed at the end of September during World Atomic Week in Moscow which multiplied the capacity of what had previously been proposed as a six-SMR 330 MW project. Instead it will be made up of the two large units - VVER-1000s with an output each of 1 GW plus two 55 MW RITM-200N SMRs.

The RITM-200N is a water-cooled reactor adapted from Russia's nuclear-powered icebreakers' technology, with power of 190 MWt or 55 MWe and with an intended service life of 60 years. The first unit is scheduled to go critical in late 2029.

It is the first export order for Russia's SMR. The first land-based version is currently being built in Yakut, Russia, with the launch of the first unit scheduled for 2027.