Uzbekistan's Jizzakh Nuclear Power Project Investment Estimate Reaches $9.5 Billion

The nuclear power project in the Jizzakh region, developed by Uzbekistan in cooperation with Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), has a total capital expenditure estimate of $9.5 billion. The investment scope includes site preparation, reactor construction, regulatory compliance, and high-voltage grid connection.

Under the project arrangement, the nuclear power plant will adopt Russian-designed advanced reactor technology to meet regional baseload power supply demands and adapt to Uzbekistan's geographical and climatic conditions. The project site in the Jizzakh region is intended to enhance power supply reliability for the central industrial corridor of Uzbekistan and promote a reduction in the country's energy structure's dependence on natural gas.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has set an explicit requirement that domestically produced goods and services account for at least 30% of the project's total cost. This requirement aims to retain a portion of the project investment within the domestic industrial system rather than relying entirely on imported equipment and services.

In line with this target, the project will prioritize the use of domestically produced construction materials, cement, and structural steel that meet nuclear-grade standards, while incorporating local civil engineering firms, logistics service providers, and electrical contractors into the primary supply chain. The Uzbek side also plans to establish rigorous quality assurance and certification processes to align domestic manufacturing standards with international nuclear regulatory requirements.

Uzbekistan hopes that localization participation will reduce capital outflow, create technical jobs, and foster long-term industrial capabilities for servicing advanced energy infrastructure. As the project progresses, local enterprises will become more deeply involved in the nuclear power project construction cycle, providing support for the enhancement of regional manufacturing capabilities and technology accumulation.