Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — In an interview with the Alter Ego project, the director of Uzbekistan’s Atomic Energy Agency, Azim Akhmedkhadzhaev, explained why the country decided to build a small nuclear power plant in cooperation with Russia and why an international tender was not held.

Akhmedkhadzhaev noted that plans to develop nuclear energy were formulated back in 2018 when Uzbekistan and Russia signed an intergovernmental agreement. Over time, both parties concluded that a small nuclear power plant would be the most optimal choice for the initial phase.

According to him, given the agreements already reached and the preliminary research conducted at that time, it was logical to continue the project with Russian partners. Changing the technology would have required revisiting all the studies conducted and effectively returning to square one.

He emphasized that, to date, Russia remains the only country with a reference, meaning a proven, technology for small nuclear reactors. These reactors have been used for more than six decades in the nuclear fleet and have now been adapted for land-based applications, whereas similar developments in other countries remain at the design stage.

The Uzbek small nuclear power plant will be based on the water-cooled RITM-200N reactor, previously used in nuclear icebreakers.

However, such reactors have not yet been used on land, which has raised public concerns about whether Uzbekistan is becoming a testing ground for new technology. In response, Akhmedkhadzhaev dismissed these fears, stressing that there is no difference between using the reactor at sea or on land—the operating principle remains unchanged. He explained that the technology has already proven its reliability, which is precisely why it is considered reference technology. The only difference is its adaptation for terrestrial conditions.

Addressing the absence of an international tender and comparisons with Kazakhstan, the head of UzAtom noted that Uzbek legislation does not require a referendum on such issues. He recalled that decisions in the country are made based on in-depth analysis and that the president, as a leader elected by the majority of the population, has the authority to approve such strategically important projects.

Akhmedkhadzhaev also commented on claims that the process is moving too slowly. He compared the approach to building a nuclear power plant to the saying "measure seven times, cut once," adding that in this case, each step is preceded by what could be considered seventy measurements. According to him, some may feel today that the construction of a nuclear plant is untimely, but in the long run, it will become evident that this decision was made at the right moment and will bring significant benefits to the country.

Azim Akhmedkhadzhaev stated that building a nuclear power plant is the only viable solution for Uzbekistan. In his interview with Alter Ego, he emphasized that the issue of nuclear energy is directly tied to ensuring the country’s energy security.

He explained that abandoning nuclear energy would inevitably increase dependence on coal and gas imports, negatively affecting both the environment and the economy.

"We can continue buying high-calorie coal, burning it, and harming the environment. We can spend billions on importing gas. Or we can build several power plants, lower electricity costs, and achieve complete energy independence. Can we achieve this independence? Absolutely," Akhmedkhadzhaev stated.

He also underscored that Russia’s involvement in the project does not mean dependence on a single country.

"Yes, the nuclear island will be Russian because this technology is the most reliable and well-tested. However, the automated control system will be based on European solutions, and turbine equipment will be supplied by European or Chinese manufacturers," he explained.

The plant will be owned by Uzbekistan and operated by Uzbek specialists. "This does not mean that Russia has some sort of remote button it can press to influence the plant’s operation," Akhmedkhadzhaev stressed.