Rosatom: large-scale construction at Uzbekistan's first nuclear plant to begin in 2027

Rosatom State Corporation Director General Aleksey Likhachev said large-scale construction work will begin in 2027 at the site of the first integrated nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan. Speaking to journalists on October 23, Likhachev said the site's workforce is planned to rise from the current 1,000 people to a peak of 12,000-13,000.

Likhachev said that next year, survey work and design of the large station are planned to be completed. This year, concreting of the foundation slabs of the reactor buildings of two small power units is to be finished, and construction of the control building and the reactor and turbine halls is to begin.

Likhachev said local contractors are actively involved in the project, including a nominated subcontractor. Rosatom estimates localisation of competencies could reach 40%. He said this would improve the project's economic efficiency and help train specialists who could later take part in Rosatom construction projects in other countries. About 350 people are studying at the Tashkent branch of MEPhI, and about 900 more at Russian universities, including Rosatom-linked specialised institutions.