Uzbekistan plans to build a large nuclear power plant despite the expected start of construction of a small one, minister of energy Jurabek Mirzamahmudov said in the Lolazor podcast.
The 330 MW small nuclear power plant (SMPP), which will consist of six 55 MW reactors, will built by the Russian company Atomstroyexport (engineering division of Rosatom). According to the minister, because of its size, it will have “almost no impact on total capacity” of power generation in the country.
“We are starting with a small reactor to train specialists, but we will eventually need a large reactor,” Jurabek Mirzamahmudov said.
By 2030, Uzbekistan aims to increase the share of renewable energy to 40% and reach 20 GW generation. He highlighted the need for baseload generation during periods without sun or wind, noting that this generation will come from thermal (gas and coal) and hydro power plants.
The 330 MW capacity of the small plant would be equivalent to nearly 5 GW of renewable energy. While renewable energy sources operate for about 1,800 hours a year, a nuclear power plant can guarantee operation for 8,000 hours, the minister explained. The capacity utilisation rate of the thermal and hydro power plants exceeds 90%, compared to only 20−25% for renewable sources, he added.
Jurabek Mirzamahmudov stressed that the construction of the small plant was still at the design stage. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been consulted throughout the process, with two missions already conducted to verify the suitability of the chosen site in Uzbekistan.
“The IAEA has inspected the site and confirmed its suitability. We are now moving on to the next stage. The site has been selected and now a feasibility study will be prepared, after which the project’s cost will be determined,” he said.
When asked whether the Uzbek side was aware of the project’s cost, the minister said: “Preliminary calculations have already been made, and the project has been launched on the basis of them. When the feasibility study is ready, everything will be clear”.
He also addressed the varying costs of building nuclear power plants in different countries."Conditions differ from country to country. Hungary has certain conditions, while Turkey, Belarus, and Bangladesh have their own systems. For example, nuclear plants need a cooling system. In Hungary, they use water from the Danube, which is returned to the river," he stated.
Mirzamahmudov noted that the cost of electricity for the project will be announced after the feasibility study is completed.
He also answered a question about the timeline for constructing the small nuclear power plant.
“Why did I mention the IAEA? Because the mission of agency was involved in the selection of the site. Before you can start construction, we need to go through a licensing process. In some countries it takes two years, in others one. Construction can only begin after a license has been granted by the relevant committee, verified by the IAEA. The construction process itself takes 60 months, but the most challenging part is the preparation, design, and licensing. For example, this process takes 36−48 months for a thermal power plant and 60−69 months for a small NPP,” he explained.
When asked whether it was possible to build a large NPP in Uzbekistan by 2040, the minister replied: “Of course”.
“We want to be carbon neutral by 2050, and this cannot be achieved without a nuclear power plant. The US has revised its program. America has the most reactors in the world, 99 units. Europe, Korea and Japan are also restarting their nuclear initiatives. The whole world is moving in this direction,” Jurabek Mirzamahmudov concluded.
The contract for the construction of ASMM was signed on 27 May during the visit of the president of Russia Vladimir Putin to Tashkent. Russia’s nuclear corporation Rosatom will serve as the general contractor for the construction, with involvement of Uzbek companies. Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev stated the plant would be commissioned “in modules” from 2029 to 2033.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called the project “vitally important”, noting Uzbekistan’s significant uranium reserves.
