Energo: Russia to build six “mini nuke” reactors in Uzbekistan, officials announce during Putin visit

Russia is to build up to six “mini” nuclear reactors in Uzbekistan, it was announced during a May 26-27 visit to Uzbekistan paid by Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

The 55-MW RITM-200N reactors, making up a power production complex in the central-eastern region of Jizzakh of up to 330 MW, could turn out to be Central Asia’s first nuclear power facility if delivered relatively quickly. Kazakhstan, a uranium producer like Uzbekistan, is working towards building a nuclear plant, though the project is yet to be subjected to a planned referendum, while Kyrgyzstan is exploring some nuclear power options.

Russia through state corporation Rosatom and subsidiary Atomstroyexport – which signed the Uzbek nuclear power plant (NPP) deal along with Uzbekistan's Directorate for NPP and said construction work would commence in the summer – is working to dominate nuclear power development in the region, as well as in countries including Turkey, but it faces competition from rivals including France, China, the US and South Korea.