Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan is planning to construct a large nuclear power plant (NPP), in addition to the small NPP with a 330 MW capacity already slated for development. This was revealed by Minister of Energy, Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, during a podcast interview on Lolazor.

The minister highlighted that while the small NPP, to be built by Russia’s "Atomstroyexport" (an engineering division of Rosatom), will play a limited role in the country’s overall energy mix by 2030, it will be instrumental in training specialists for future large-scale nuclear projects.

Mirzamakhmudov stated, “By 2030, we plan to increase the share of renewable energy to 40%, reaching a capacity of 20 GW. However, during periods of unfavorable weather conditions, like lack of sunlight and wind, we will still need base load power generation, which comes from thermal power plants (natural gas, coal), hydroelectric stations, and eventually, a large NPP.”

The small NPP’s capacity of 330 MW is comparable to around 5 GW of energy produced from renewable sources, due to differences in operational hours. Renewables typically operate for 1,800 hours annually, while nuclear power plants can guarantee up to 8,000 operational hours, with a capacity utilization rate above 90% for nuclear and thermal power, compared to 20-25% for renewables.

The construction of the small NPP is currently in the design phase, with inputs from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The agency has conducted two missions to assess the suitability of the selected site, which was confirmed to meet international standards. The next steps include the development of a feasibility study (FS) to determine the project’s cost.

Preliminary cost estimates have already been calculated, but the final figure will only be known after the FS is completed. Construction can only begin after licensing, a process that could take one to two years, followed by a construction phase of approximately 60 months.

Mirzamakhmudov also discussed the potential for building a large NPP by 2040, which he views as realistic. The minister emphasized the importance of nuclear power in reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, noting that several countries, including the U.S., Europe, South Korea, and Japan, are revisiting their nuclear energy programs as part of global efforts to combat climate change.