Mirziyoyev announced preparations for a second nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan.

Mirziyoyev announced preparations for the construction of a second nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the imminent commencement of preparatory work for the construction of a second nuclear power plant in the country. He made the announcement on August 17 in the Khorezm region at an event dedicated to the launch of new projects and the start of construction of promising facilities. The information was provided by the press service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The head of state emphasized that the development of nuclear energy is necessary to provide the economy with a stable supply of electricity and reduce its cost. According to him, investors are primarily interested in the cost of electricity and supply guarantees.

"Today I want to reveal a secret to you: we will soon begin extensive preparations for the second nuclear power plant," Mirziyoyev stated.

The President noted that to attract new investment, it is important to implement the country's development strategy through 2030, ensure a reliable energy supply, and take measures to reduce the cost of electricity.

Mirziyoyev also recalled the ongoing integrated nuclear power plant project in the Jizzakh region, noting that until recently, the construction of such a facility in Uzbekistan seemed unimaginable.

Plans to develop nuclear energy have previously been discussed internationally. On June 5, at the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Mirziyoyev announced his intention to continue building nuclear power plants in Uzbekistan jointly with Russia.

According to the president, the integrated nuclear power plant is a strategically important project for the country's energy security, as Uzbekistan's electricity demand could double in the next 10 years. He also pointed to the country's significant uranium reserves, noting that Uzbekistan ranks tenth in the world in uranium reserves and fifth in its production.

In December 2025, the head of Uzatom considered the possibility of building a second large-capacity nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan, but at that time, there were no specific plans for its implementation. However, the site in the Jizzakh region can accommodate two additional large power units.

Previously, Azim Akhmedkhadzhaev, former head of Uzatom, called the Farish district of the Jizzakh region a promising site for the future construction of another nuclear power plant. According to him, the area has already been sufficiently explored, allowing for the relatively rapid implementation of additional projects.

The current integrated NPP project in the Jizzakh region envisions the construction of two large power units with VVER-1000 generation 3+ reactors and two small power units with RITM-200N reactors, each rated at 55 MW.

The total capacity of the plant will be over 2.1 GW: 2 GW for the large NPP and 110 MW for the small NPP.

In September 2025, Uzatom and Rosatom agreed on a new project configuration. In October, excavation work began at the small NPP construction site in the Jizzakh region to build the RITM-200N reactor pit for the power unit. In March 2026, the first concrete work began there.

On June 4, the groundbreaking ceremony for the first power unit of the integrated nuclear power plant took place in the Farish district of the Jizzakh region.

The pouring of the first concrete marked the official start of construction of the plant.

Against this backdrop, the president's announcement of the commencement of preparations for a second nuclear power plant marks the further expansion of Uzbekistan's nuclear energy program.