Russia to build first Central Asian nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on Monday at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia would build a small nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan, the first such project in Central Asia in the post-Soviet era.
The nuclear deal, if implemented, would demonstrate Russia’s ability to export not only energy but also advanced technological products to new Asian markets, at a time when the West is increasing pressure on it through sanctions.
Putin, who is visiting Tashkent, said Russia would put $400 million into a $500 million mutual fund to finance projects in Uzbekistan.
Mirziyoyev also said Tashkent was interested in buying more oil and gas from Russia, a reversal from a decades-old practice where Moscow imported hydrocarbons from Central Asia.
Mirziyoyev called Putin’s visit historic.
“It heralds the beginning of a new era in the comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance relations between our two countries,” he said.
Putin also described Tashkent as Moscow’s strategic partner and reliable ally.
Documents released by the Kremlin said Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom would build about six nuclear reactors of 55 megawatts each in Uzbekistan.
There are no nuclear power plants in any of the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia, although Uzbekistan and its neighbor Kazakhstan, both uranium producers, have long said their developing economies need them.
