Launch of construction of the first power unit of the integrated NPP in Uzbekistan

Also taking part in the ceremony were IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, First Deputy Director General of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation Andrei Petrov, and Director of the Agency for the Development of Nuclear Energy Uzatom Azim Akhmedkhadjaev.

The integrated NPP project in Uzbekistan is truly unique: for the first time, small and large-capacity nuclear power plants will be built on a single site. The pouring of the "first concrete" into the reactor building foundation signifies the facility's transition to the status of a "new nuclear power plant under construction" in accordance with IAEA standards. The project will comprise two large-capacity power units based on VVER-1000 reactors and a power unit featuring two RITM-200N reactors with a capacity of 55 MW each.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Mirziyoyev,

Mr Grossi,

Friends,

I am delighted to welcome all participants of the ceremony marking the start of construction by Rosatom of the first nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan. It is indeed symbolic that we are launching this large-scale, joint Russia-Uzbekistan project from here, from St Petersburg, together with President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The start of concrete pouring into the foundation of power unit number one of the future NPP signifies that work on creating one of the largest nuclear power plants in the region is now entering its practical stage.

To be continued.