Uzbekistan's Integrated Nuclear Power Plant Completes Reactor Building Foundation Pit Excavation

The press service of the President of Uzbekistan announced on September 2 that the integrated nuclear power plant project being built by Rosatom has completed the excavation of the reactor building foundation pit, with over 1 million cubic meters of earth removed in total.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on the progress of the nuclear power plant construction. The project was officially launched in June this year, and construction workers have already completed site excavation at the 100-hectare construction and installation base, pouring 916 cubic meters of foundation concrete. A total of 450 workers and 100 pieces of equipment are involved in the construction at the site, with a total project investment of $9.5 billion.

According to the briefing, the residential area for nuclear power plant workers is planned to cover 200 hectares, with 10,000 apartment units to be built to accommodate nearly 33,000 people. The residential area will also feature energy-efficient multi-story buildings, kindergartens, schools, medical facilities, sports and cultural venues, as well as recreational spaces, all equipped with alternative energy sources and smart lighting systems.

The nuclear power plant project will also include the construction of 388 kilometers of transmission lines, a substation, water supply networks, and nearly 50 kilometers of roads and railways. An industrial zone is planned as part of the project's supporting infrastructure, with at least 100 joint ventures engaged in the production of construction materials expected to be attracted.

Talent development is also a key component of the project. According to Uzbek sources, since 2023, the Uzbekistan branch of the National Research Nuclear University (MEPhI) has produced 216 graduates, with another 100 students currently studying in relevant programs at other Uzbek higher education institutions.

Russia and Uzbekistan signed an intergovernmental cooperation agreement on building a nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan in 2018. In 2024, the two sides signed a protocol amending the agreement, expanding the scope of cooperation to include the construction of small nuclear power plants of Russian design in Uzbekistan. Under the current plans, the small nuclear power plant and the large nuclear power plant will be built on the same site, and the Uzbek side has stated that the project will become the world's first integrated nuclear power plant.