atw - International Journal for Nuclear Power | 03.2020

atw Vol. 65 (2020) | Issue 3 ı March
128
INSIDE NUCLEAR WITH NUCNET
Uzbekistan: Why Energy-Rich Nation
is Turning to Nuclear Power
Uzbekistan has confirmed it has begun preliminary site work for the construction of its first
commercial nuclear power units, with the preparation of external infrastructure for two
Russia- supplied pressurised water reactor units scheduled to begin next year.
The central Asian country signed an inter-governmental
agreement with Russia in September 2018 for the
development of the its first nuclear power station. The
facility, which will be constructed by Russian state-owned
nuclear corporation Rosatom, will have two blocks with a
combined capacity of 2,400 MW. The first is due to come
on line in 2028 and the second in 2030.
Engineering and geological work has begun at the site,
an area near Lake Tuzkan in Jizzakh province, west of the
capital Tashkent in the east of the country.
First deputy minister of energy Jurabek Mirzamahmudov
told NucNet Uzbekistan is in the process of preparing the
environmental impact assessment and expects to finalise
all the documentation for site approvals this year.
Next year site preparation will be stepped up and the
preparation of external infrastructure will begin.
Mr Mirzamahmudov, who is also head of the Uzatom
state nuclear agency, which was established in July 2018 to
lead national nuclear development, said the units will
provide about 15 % of the country’s electricity generation
and be a “long-term baseload power resource”.
The construction of the station is scheduled to begin in
2022 with a soft loan from the Russian government,
although Mr Mirzamahmudov said exact details of the
financing package and the cost of the units had not yet
been finalised.
Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev told reporters in Russia
recently that further negotiations are planned in the
coming months and no details would be released until they
are complete.
“We want to add nuclear power as well as renewables
to ensure the sustainability of our energy mix,” said
Mr Mirzamahmudov. “With nuclear, you can plan your
energy strategy for the next 60 years – and we are one of
the top countries in the world for uranium production, so
we have the raw material.”
Uzbekistan, the world’s seventh largest uranium
producer, sees the nuclear project as a pass into the “elite
club” of nuclear powers, according to Mr Mirzamakhmudov.
“We will be joining the club of countries with peaceful use
of nuclear energy. That is an elite club. This is a whole new
level, different type of relationships, new technologies,
science and education development.”
A significant role in ensuring the country’s energy
efficiency is given to diversification of energy sources.
To this end Uzbekistan has made “a historic decision” to
begin the development of nuclear energy generation,
Mr Mirzamahmudov said.
The country’s power complex has traditionally struggled
to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population and
developing economy due to outdated infrastructure and
inefficient management. With consumption forecast to
surge over the coming years, as economic reforms spur a
jump in industrial production, the need for change has
become urgent. “We are seeing new industries coming on
line in processing, textiles, agriculture, manufacturing and
metallurgy, as well as a huge expansion in tourism and
other services,” said Mr Mirzamahmudov. “All of these will
need access to a stable and reliable electricity supply.”
The choice was made in favour of nuclear power given
uranium availability and most importantly, economic
benefits to the country. “Today this is one of the cleanest,
ecologically safest sources of power, as well as the cheapest
one after hydropower,” Mr Mirzamakhmudov said.
Meeting this demand will not come cheap. Over the
next five years, officials estimate that more than $ 2.8 bn
will be required to upgrade existing infrastructure, while
adding new power generation, not including nuclear,
could cost as much as $ 14.4 bn.
The International Energy Agency said that despite
being energy self-sufficient thanks to its oil and gas sectors,
Uzbekistan’s ageing electricity infrastructure struggles to
meet growing domestic energy demand. Oil and natural
gas make up about 97 % of the country’s energy mix.
Uzbekistan’s current reliance on coal, gas, oil and
hydropower will not be enough to meet growing demand,
even with plans to double hydropower capacity by 2030.
With nuclear energy expected to account for 15 % of the
country’s power balance and ensure stable energy supply
with expectations of power demand doubling by 2030,
according to Uzatom.
Uzbekistan was also taking steps to develop solar and
wind energy, but would only rely on them for about 3 %
of power generation in a decade as neither was a stable
supply source, Mr Mirzamakhmudov said.
The Uzbekistan nuclear project is of strategic interest to
both Russia and Uzbeks. It will help Uzbekistan generate
economic growth and it will enable the Russians to
re-establish themselves as the primary regional power
in terms of security and economic muscle, according to
Camilla Hagelund, principal analyst at UK-based risk
consultancy, Verisk Maplecroft.
Quoted in the London-based Financial Times newspaper,
Ms Hagelund said: “Central Asia is often described
as the soft underbelly of Russia. You have continued
security issues in Afghanistan. Central Asia is like a buffer
in between that and a potential security threat in its own
right.”
Moreover, China has been expanding its influence in
the region: “There is a level of competition between Russia
and China, and it is very important for Russia to continue
to demonstrate that it is the primary regional power for
central Asia.”
Author
NucNet
The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency
Editor responsible for this story: David Dalton
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Inside Nuclear with NucNet
Uzbekistan: Why Energy-Rich Nation is Turning to Nuclear Power