The budget of Uzatom and the Nuclear Power Plant Directorate for 2026-2027 will be revised

The budget allocations for Uzatom and the Nuclear Power Plant Construction Directorate for 2026–2027 will be reviewed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan. This was announced on September 2 by Khurshed Mustafayev, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance for Oil and Gas, while summing up a presentation to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the progress of the nuclear power plant's construction.

According to Mustafayev, the head of state instructed that timely funding for the project be ensured and that any delays in the work be avoided.

"The head of state gave clear instructions to complete all work on time, without delays, and, if necessary, ahead of schedule," the deputy minister stated in an interview with the Uzbekistan 24 television channel.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance, Mustafayev noted, must ensure funding for the project within the annually approved budgets.

Furthermore, instructions were given to ensure uninterrupted funding for the Atomic Energy Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers (Uzatom) and the Directorate for Nuclear Power Plant Construction, as well as to increase their staffing levels.

"Based on these objectives, the agency and directorate's 2026-2027 expense estimates will be reviewed, and issues of additional staffing and timely payments will be addressed in the prescribed manner," the deputy minister stated.

According to state budget laws, 42.7 billion soums were allocated to the Atomic Energy Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers in 2025, entirely earmarked for current expenses.

For 2026, the agency's expenses have been increased to 46.4 billion soums, an increase of approximately 3.7 billion soums, or 8.7%. These funds are also fully classified as current expenses.

On August 17, Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that "extensive preparations" were underway in Uzbekistan for a second nuclear power plant project. The proposed construction site, capacity, and completion timeline have not yet been disclosed.

The integrated nuclear power plant, being built in the Farish district of the Jizzakh region, will consist of four power units: two with VVER-1000 reactors, each with a capacity of 1 GW, and two RITM-200N small modular reactors, each with a capacity of 55 MW. The total capacity of the plant will be 2,110 MW, with an expected annual output of up to 17 billion kWh.

The technical launch of the first small modular reactor is scheduled for October-November 2029, with the second following six months later. The first large power unit is expected to be launched in 2033, and the project is expected to be fully completed in 2034-2035.

The project's base cost was previously estimated at no more than $9.5 billion. The bulk of the funding is planned to come from loans, including preferential export credit from Russia.