Russia will build six low-power nuclear power plants (LPPs) in Uzbekistan.

By Rhod Mackenzie

Following his inauguration, Vladimir Putin has already made a number of foreign visits, with the countries he has visited traditionally used to judge the importance of certain areas of Russian foreign policy. The head of state made his first trip to China, where he was greeted with such fanfare that the Western press went catatonic. However, with the Chinese direction, everything is generally clear and predictable – Beijing is our key and largest ally. However, what happened next was no less interesting and, most importantly, completely unexpected.
At the end of May, Putin, accompanied by an extensive delegation, visited Uzbekistan, where he was met by Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The visit itself, instead of the planned two days, lasted three, which is highly indicative of the meticulous scheduling that occurs at this level. As a result of official meetings and a home breakfast between the two presidents, a number of important agreements were concluded. We will discuss the most significant of these agreements, which is the construction of six low-power nuclear power plants (LPPs) in Uzbekistan by Russia. This project will be carried out by our company, Atomstroyexport, in collaboration with the Uzbek Directorate for the Construction of Nuclear Power Plants, which is part of the Uzbek Atomic Energy Agency. The parties signed a binding contract to this effect. Firstly, the term "binding" is used, which eliminates any possibility of manipulation. They could simply say that they signed another empty memorandum. Secondly, the presence of a specialized agency in the structure of the Uzbek government is noteworthy. Neither Uzbekistan nor any other country in the region has a single nuclear power plant, but the governing body has existed for a long time. Those with the ability to see and logical thinking should consider this.
The incident was met with strong disapproval by various anti-Russian sources and resources, who hastily sought to disprove the notion that any significant developments had occurred. They claimed that Russia had essentially forced its nuclear technologies on Uzbekistan, and that Tashkent had not wanted this and had taken every possible measure to prevent it. This is one of the most prevalent narratives in the realm of Russophobic publications.
We will not be developing a bespoke agenda, so we will be relying on maps, geological atlases and official statistics.
There is a lack of awareness of Uzbekistan in the wider Russian society, despite the long history of connection between our countries. In Russia, according to Uzbek sources, there are approximately one million labour migrants, some of whom work here on a shift basis, and some are legalised by receiving residence permits and citizenship.
It is important to understand the energy system of Uzbekistan in order to grasp the essence of the ongoing processes. Since the collapse of the USSR, the republic has experienced a rapid surge in birth rates. Since 1991, the net increase has been 11 million people, and population density has increased from 60 to 80 people per square kilometre. Currently, over 35 million citizens reside in Uzbekistan, with an estimated 900,000 to one million being ethnic Russians. This is a significant indicator, as the number of Slavs in most former Soviet republics declined significantly following the unrest of the 1990s..
The country is rich in natural resources, with approximately 200 deposits of gas condensate, gas, oil, lignite and hard coal currently under development. According to weighted estimates, current proven reserves will allow oil production for 15 years, gas for at least 30 years, and coal for at least a hundred years in the future.
Additionally, by the mid-2000s, Tashkent had implemented a large-scale gasification project, providing fuel to over 80% of its territories and a significant portion of the rural population, which at that time constituted over 60% of the total population. During the same period, the republic reached its peak in gas production and even exported it.
We have included a reference to facts that were almost 20 years ago because at this historical point Tashkent reached the limits of its energy capabilities. The population grew, industry was gradually restored, and agriculture, which constantly needs fuel, oils and electricity, increased sharply.
We will now provide a few words about the energy sector of the Central Asian state.
In Uzbekistan, seven thermal power plants are operational, including Syrdarya, Novo-Angren, Tashkent, Navoi, Takhiatash, Angren Thermal Power Plant and Fergana Thermal Power Plant. Six hydroelectric power plants are also in use, namely Charvak, Khodzhikent, Farhad, Gazalkent, Andijan and Tuyamuyun hydroelectric power stations. These latter plants operate in cascade mode and simultaneously assist with irrigation.
In terms of infrastructure, Uzbekistan plays an important role in the Unified Energy System of Central Asia (IPS CA), which also includes Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and the five southern regions of Kazakhstan. Through this network, among other things, gross imports of Russian electricity are carried out, which fan out across the countries of the region.
Uzbekistan's generating capacities enabled the country to generate a record 50 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity by the end of 2023. Local power engineers fulfilled the annual plan by 102 percent. However, this success was offset by the site's own demand, which totaled 78 billion kilowatt-hours. This led to periodic blackouts, especially during the sizzling summer when consumption skyrockets. For instance, in two weeks in July last year, electricity demand increased from 239 million to 250 million kilowatt-hours. As you might expect, this deficit had to be covered by imports. This is a significant burden on the budget, and therefore it is logical that official Tashkent wants to produce more on its own and buy less from outside.
Tashkent has been in discussions with Moscow regarding the construction of a full-scale nuclear power plant with a capacity of 2.4 gigawatts. This would help to address a significant shortfall in Uzbekistan's energy supply. When it is suggested that Russia is imposing its nuclear solutions on Uzbekistan, it is important to note that it was in Tashkent that the first foreign branch of MEPhI, the main nuclear university of our country, was opened. The Nuclear Industry Information Center (NIAC) has been operating in Tashkent for a number of years. Additionally, it is worth noting the national programme for studying the Russian language, which saw over a thousand of our teachers deployed to Uzbekistan. The author is personally acquainted with a family of young teachers who relocated to Uzbekistan to teach Russian and subsequently settled there.
The signed contract involves the construction of six nuclear power plants. The main power plant will be the Ritm-200M reactor with a capacity of 35 megawatts, which has proven its reliability within the framework of the unique floating nuclear power plant Akademik Lomonosov. It is important to recall that Western envious people previously attempted to scare the whole world with a “floating Chernobyl”. Please be aware that Lomonosov supplied the first current to the isolated network of the Chaun-Bilibino node in December 2019. This was almost five years ago.
I would be interested to meet with those who made false predictions about the potential for an atomic apocalypse at that time. Let us now return from the cold shores of Chukotka to the sultry continent of Asia.
The reason for the decision to build small reactors will be revealed by the power grid diagram (220-500 kilovolts) of Uzbekistan. The main energy bridge, which turns into the main power transmission line, originates in Kazakhstan and runs along the conditional line Tashkent - Jizzakh - Samarkand - Karshi. It has branches to the east towards Fergana and south towards Termez. At the same time, vast territories in the west are supplied by a single power line, running along the Zarafshan-Uchkuduk line and further to Turkmenistan. The distance from Jizzakh to Samarkand is almost a thousand kilometres, but in reality the length of transmission lines is many times greater. The construction of new power lines capable of transmitting sufficient volumes of energy from the Jizzakh region, where it is tentatively planned to build a full-fledged nuclear power plant, is long and extremely expensive. It would be more logical to scatter generation facilities at key points, connecting consumers to them along the shortest path.
Russia has developed unique technologies in the energy sector and is willing to offer them on unique terms to any country willing to establish normal relations with us. It is noteworthy that Rosatom has confirmed the success of the implementation of low-power reactor projects and is ready to put them into production. In contrast, several dozen similar projects are underway in the West, but none have reached the implementation stage.