NPP construction progress and nuclear workers’ town project reviewed

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on the progress of construction of the integrated nuclear power plant and a modern satellite town in Jizzakh region.

Developing nuclear energy is crucial for strengthening the country’s energy security, establishing reliable, sustainable baseload power, and diversifying energy sources.

The integrated nuclear power plant project officially moved into active construction on June 4. So far, excavation for the reactor building pit is complete, and over 1 million cubic meters of soil have been removed. At the foundation slab site, 916 cubic meters of concrete have been poured. Earthworks cover 100 hectares at the construction and installation base.

Currently, 450 workers and specialists, along with more than 100 units of specialized equipment, are engaged at the construction site.

The project’s total cost is $9.5 billion. Approximately 3,000 types of products and equipment are expected to be used during construction.

Preliminary estimates indicate that locally produced goods will account for 21 percent, or $1.9 billion. The Head of State noted that this figure is insufficient.

The task was to increase the share of domestically produced goods in the project to at least 30 percent, ensure that national enterprises perform at least 65 percent of the construction and installation work, and engage 7,000 local workers and specialists.

To this end, it was proposed to establish a 200-hectare industrial zone in Forish district specializing in building materials production. The zone is expected to accommodate at least 100 joint ventures and localize production in 15 areas through technology transfer.

The President approved the proposal and directed that a draft resolution offering tax and customs incentives to participants in the industrial zone be submitted by the end of the year.

It was emphasized that construction quality and safety must remain an unconditional priority and that all work must fully comply with IAEA requirements and international standards.

An IAEA Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review mission was conducted on June 22-26 this year, after which Uzbekistan’s national nuclear infrastructure received a high assessment of its development level.

During the development of the plant’s external engineering infrastructure, construction will include 388 kilometers of power transmission lines, a 110-kilovolt substation, 21 kilometers of drinking water pipelines, 120 kilometers of industrial water supply pipelines, 39.5 kilometers of roads, and 11 kilometers of railways.

The Head of State stressed the need to ensure that locally produced goods and services account for 60-70 percent of the construction of these facilities.

A project for a town for nuclear industry workers was also reviewed to create decent living conditions for workers, specialists, and their family members during construction.

The 200-hectare site is expected to accommodate about 10,000 apartments for nearly 33,000 residents, with 3,000 in the first phase.

The nuclear workers’ town will feature energy-efficient multi-story residential buildings, schools and preschools, healthcare, sports and cultural facilities, recreational areas, and extensive green spaces. Modern thermal insulation technologies, alternative energy sources, and smart lighting systems will be used in its construction.

To improve project management, strengthen technical oversight, and conduct independent expert reviews of technological solutions, it was proposed to establish a joint venture with leading international engineering companies. Measures were also identified to adapt approximately 1,000 industry standards to the national system and implement them in practice.

The need to begin targeted training now for highly qualified operators, engineers, and radiation safety specialists who will later operate the plant was emphasized.

Since 2023, 216 students have graduated from the Tashkent branch of Russia’s National Research Nuclear University. Of these, 83 are pursuing master’s and postgraduate programs at leading universities in China, Hungary, France, Italy, and the Republic of Korea. Another 100 specialists are undergoing training at four higher education institutions in Uzbekistan.

Considering the expanded roles of Uzatom Agency and the NPP Construction Directorate, proposals were examined to progressively enhance their organizational and staffing capabilities.

The Head of State gave responsible officials specific instructions to ensure the high quality and safety of construction of the nuclear power plant and the nuclear workers’ town, ensure compliance with construction deadlines, promote broader participation by domestic enterprises, and coordinate the implementation of infrastructure projects and personnel training programs.

UzA