NPP construction progress and satellite town project reviewed

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on the progress of construction of an integrated nuclear power plant and the development of a modern satellite town in the Jizzakh region.

The development of nuclear energy is of strategic importance for strengthening the country’s energy security, creating stable baseload generating capacity, and diversifying energy sources.

The integrated nuclear power plant project entered the active construction phase on June 4 this year. To date, excavation of the foundation pit for the reactor building has been fully completed, with more than 1 million cubic meters of soil removed. A total of 916 cubic meters of concrete has been poured for the foundation slab. Earthworks have been completed across 100 hectares at the construction and installation base.

Currently, 450 workers and specialists are working at the construction site, supported by more than 100 units of specialized equipment.

The total cost of the project is $9.5 billion. About 3,000 types of products and equipment are expected to be used during construction.

According to preliminary estimates, locally produced goods account for 21 percent of the project, equivalent to $1.9 billion. The President noted that this figure is insufficient.

The task was set to increase the share of domestically produced goods in the project to at least 30 percent, ensure that domestic enterprises carry out 65 percent of construction and installation work, and involve 7,000 local workers and specialists.

For this purpose, it was proposed to establish a 200-hectare industrial zone in the Forish district specializing in the production of construction materials. The zone is expected to accommodate at least 100 joint ventures and localize production in 15 areas through technology transfer.

The Head of State approved the proposal and instructed that a draft resolution providing tax and customs benefits for participants in the industrial zone be submitted by the end of the year.

It was particularly emphasized that construction quality and safety must remain an absolute priority and that all work must fully comply with IAEA requirements and international standards.

During the presentation, it was noted that a comprehensive IAEA assessment mission took place from June 22 to 26 this year, resulting in a high assessment of the level of development of Uzbekistan’s national nuclear infrastructure.

As part of the development of the plant’s external engineering infrastructure, 388 kilometers of power lines, a 110-kilovolt substation, 21 kilometers of drinking water pipelines, 120 kilometers of technical water supply pipelines, 39.5 kilometers of roads, and 11 kilometers of railway lines will be built.

The President emphasized the need to ensure that locally produced goods and services account for 60–70 percent of the construction of these facilities.

A project for a town for nuclear specialists was also reviewed to provide suitable living conditions for workers, specialists, and their families during the construction period.

The 200-hectare development will include about 10,000 apartments for nearly 33,000 residents, including 3,000 apartments in the first phase.

The town for nuclear specialists will feature energy-efficient multi-story residential buildings, schools and preschools, healthcare, sports and cultural facilities, recreation areas, and extensive green spaces. Modern thermal insulation technologies, alternative energy sources, and smart lighting systems will be used in its construction.

To improve project management, strengthen technical oversight, and conduct independent reviews of technological solutions, it was proposed to establish a joint venture with leading foreign engineering companies. Measures were also identified to adapt and introduce about 1,000 industry standards into the national system.

The need to begin targeted training of highly qualified operators, engineers, and radiation safety specialists who will operate the plant in the future was also emphasized.

Since 2023, 216 students have graduated from the Tashkent branch of the Russian National Research Nuclear University. Of these, 83 are continuing their studies in master’s and doctoral programs at leading universities in China, Hungary, France, Italy, and the Republic of Korea. Another 100 specialists are being trained at four higher education institutions in the country.

Taking into account the expanding functions of the Uzatom Agency and the NPP Construction Directorate, proposals for the phased strengthening of their organizational and human resource capacity were also reviewed.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev gave specific instructions to responsible officials to ensure high construction quality and safety and compliance with deadlines for the nuclear power plant and the town for nuclear specialists, expand the participation of domestic enterprises, and ensure the coordinated implementation of infrastructure projects and personnel training programs.