Uzbekistan Breaks Ground on Its First Nuclear Power Plant

On 4 June, Presidents Mirziyoyev and Putin officially launched construction of Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant in the Jizzakh region, marking a major milestone in the country’s energy development.

The Project

• The facility will feature two large nuclear power units, each with a capacity of one gigawatt, and two small modular reactors (SMR) units based on Russia’s RITM-200N technology, each providing 55 megawatts.
• A construction licence for the SMR units has been granted by Uzbekistan’s Committee for Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety, with project documentation reviewed in line with IAEA standards and national legislation.
• Rosatom is the primary development partner. The plant represents a flagship initiative in Uzbek-Russian bilateral cooperation.

Strategic Context

• Uzbekistan is among the fastest-growing economies in Central Asia, with electricity demand increasing due to industrial expansion, infrastructure development, and digital transformation.
• Russia is Uzbekistan’s second-largest trading partner after China, with bilateral trade totaling approximately $4.52 billion in the first four months of 2026. In April 2026, the prime ministers of both countries reaffirmed their goal to increase annual trade to $30 billion by 2030.
• Energy, manufacturing, transportation, and infrastructure remain the most active sectors of cooperation. Russia has historically been the main destination for Uzbek labor migrants. Official estimates indicate that about 1.3 million Uzbek citizens are currently living and working temporarily in Russia.
• Nuclear energy is intended to complement the country’s existing renewable energy programme, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and diversifying the national energy mix. The project is part of a broader economic transformation, including progress toward WTO accession, the expansion of capital markets, and increased regional investment.
• As we noted in our earlier gas supply analysis, the country is facing a structural decline in domestic production; output fell by more than two billion cubic metres over the course of last year, and the fixes promised have not materialised. That tightening translated into queues at fuel stations, rationing, and public protests. The nuclear programme, viewed in that light, is as much a response to an emerging energy crisis as it is a long-term strategic investment. If delivered, a more diversified energy base would give Uzbekistan a meaningful degree of insulation from the supply volatility and structural pressures that have defined its gas market in recent years.

Bottom Line

• The construction of Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant marks a concrete step toward addressing structural energy vulnerabilities and further deepens Uzbek-Russian economic ties.
• Over the longer term, a more diversified energy base is expected to provide Uzbekistan with greater insulation from gas supply volatility and seasonal shortfalls, which have become an increasing concern.
• The commodities team will continue to monitor the plant’s progress and assess developments as construction advances.
• We anticipate that Uzbekistan’s nuclear energy partnerships will broaden over time, particularly with Kazakhstan. Given Kazakhstan’s position as one of the world’s leading uranium producers, increased cooperation between the two countries in nuclear fuel supply and energy infrastructure is a development we will be tracking closely.