Uzbekistan is in the midst of "extensive preparations" for a second nuclear plant project, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced on August 17 in Khorezm province during a ceremony launching new investment projects.
Over the past nine years, the province has attracted $7.5 billion in investment and brought 9,700 new production facilities online. On the day of the ceremony, the president launched $176 million worth of 12 projects and broke ground on another 15 projects worth $7.424 billion, expected to create 6,600 jobs.
Turning to major energy and infrastructure initiatives, Mirziyoyev pointed to the nuclear plant already under construction in the Jizzakh province.
"In this, the 35th anniversary year of our homeland, you can see for yourselves the reforms we are carrying out and the projects we are bringing to life," he said. "Could we ever have imagined a nuclear power plant in Jizzakh?"
The president then revealed plans for a second plant. "Let me tell you a secret today," he said. "We are already deep into preparations for a second plant, and it won't be long before we share more."
The location, capacity, and timelines for the second plant have not yet been disclosed.
Mirziyoyev tied the energy push to the need to offer investors reliable power supplies and predictable operating conditions. "Why do investors come here in the first place? What's the first question they ask? 'I'll bring my investment — but what will electricity cost me, and what guarantees will I have?' he said. "If we fail to deliver on our strategy through 2030, fail to guarantee power supply, and fail to bring down costs, who will come? No one, ever."
As previously reported, the technical launch of the first small modular reactor at the future plant in the Farish district of Jizzakh province is scheduled for October–November 2029, with a second reactor to follow six months later. The first large power unit is expected to come online in 2033, with the project fully completed by 2034–2035. The plant's total capacity will reach 2,110 MW, with projected annual output of up to 17 billion kWh.
The facility's design calls for four power units at a single site: two VVER-1000 reactors with a capacity of 1 GW each, and two small modular RITM-200N reactors at 55 MW each. The project's base cost is estimated at no more than $9.5 billion, with the bulk of financing expected to come from loans, including a preferential export credit from Russia.
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