Uzbekistan plans to build a second and a third nuclear power plant, president Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on 16 October at a meeting with investors, where he discussed the prospects for nuclear energy development.
The president emphasized that Uzbekistan was paying close attention to nuclear energy, taking into account the growth in uranium production and the experience accumulated in the sector.
“Tomorrow, we will hold talks with new partners and investors on the construction of a second nuclear power plant. That is why we are paying very close attention to nuclear energy. Our uranium production is growing significantly. We have made substantial investments in uranium mining and developed our capabilities and expertise. That is why we have begun construction of the first NPP. We have plans for both a second and a third,” Mirziyoyev said.
The president did not specify the proposed locations, capacities, construction timelines or costs of the new nuclear power plants. It also remains unclear which investors are expected to take part in the talks on 17 October.
First nuclear power plant
Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant is being built in Farish district, Jizzakh region, in cooperation with Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom.
In March 2026, the parties signed an additional agreement providing for an integrated plant configuration combining large- and small-capacity power units.
The project includes two large power units equipped with VVER-1000 reactors, each with a capacity of 1,000 MW, and two small units with RITM-200N reactors, each with a capacity of 55 MW. The plant’s total installed capacity will be 2,110 MW. Once operating at full capacity, it is expected to generate around 17.2 billion kWh of electricity annually.
On 4 June this year, the presidents of Uzbekistan and Russia launched construction of the plant’s first power unit. Russia is expected to provide a concessional export loan for the project.
According to information presented to the president on 2 September, the integrated project is estimated to cost $9.5 billion.
The first small reactor is scheduled to undergo technical commissioning in 2029, while the first large power unit is expected to come online in 2033. The project is expected to be completed in 2034−2035.
Second nuclear power plant
Mirziyoyev first publicly announced preparations for a second nuclear power plant on 17 August during a visit to Khorezm region.
At the time, the president said that the authorities were carrying out extensive preparatory work for another plant but did not disclose further details.
On 8 September, president of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić spoke about his conversation with Mirziyoyev during the Uzbekistan-Serbia business forum in Belgrade. He said Mirziyoyev told him that Uzbekistan planned to build one nuclear power plant in cooperation with Russia and a second with China.
The Serbian leader also relayed Mirziyoyev’s remarks that Uzbekistan intended to continue building nuclear power plants without waiting for the first two projects to be completed.
However, Uzbekistan’s authorities have not officially announced the choice of a Chinese company to build the second nuclear power plant. The project’s location, capacity, cost and implementation timeline have also not been disclosed.
Earlier, head of the Uzatom, Atomic Energy Agency, Azim Akhmedkhadjaev said that the site in Jizzakh region could accommodate two additional large power units. It remains unclear, however, whether the location is being considered for either of the new projects.