The Agency for Atomic Energy under the Cabinet of Ministers (“Uzatom”) plans to establish a joint venture with leading foreign engineering companies to strengthen technical oversight and independent expertise in the construction of an integrated nuclear power plant in Jizzakh Region.
The proposal was presented on September 2 during a presentation to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the construction of the plant and its satellite town. The new joint venture is expected to independently assess design documentation, key equipment components and the results of construction work.
Rosalia Kamaeva, Adviser and Head of the Department for Consolidated Information, Analysis and Strategic Planning at Uzatom, explained that this model would fully separate technical expertise from ongoing construction and installation activities.
“The general contractor builds the facility, but the Customer bears full responsibility for safety before its people and the international community. The Republic needs stronger technical oversight and high-tech expertise in design solutions, completely separate from ongoing construction and installation processes,” she said.
According to Kamaeva, the new structure will serve as a “second layer of quality control”, while the involvement of an international company will also allow Uzbek specialists to gain technology and management expertise. The composition of participants and the timeline for establishing the joint venture are still being worked out, so no specific companies have been named.
Abdijamil Kalmuratov, Director of the Nuclear Power Plant Construction Directorate, said the company would provide additional oversight of the quality of technical solutions, compliance with standards and complex technical components.
“This is not about slowing down the schedule, but protecting it from hidden errors. The proposal is still being developed, and we are not replacing it with an announcement of participants. First the model, then the participants, then the launch,” he said.
At the same time, Uzatom plans to adapt around 1,000 industry standards to the national system. As the agency and the Nuclear Power Plant Construction Directorate expand their responsibilities, their organizational and staffing capacity will also be strengthened gradually.
Khurshed Mustafayev (second from right). Photo: Presidential press service
Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Khurshed Mustafayev said additional staff positions will be created at the Directorate. In 2026−2027, the expenditure estimates of Uzatom and the Directorate are expected to be revised to account for the new positions and related payments.
“During 2026 and 2027, the expenditure estimates of the Uzatom Agency and the [Nuclear Power Plant] Construction Directorate will be revised, while additional staff positions and payments will be duly taken into account in accordance with established procedures,” Mustafayev said.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway to train personnel for the future plant. Operators, engineers and radiation safety specialists are planned to be trained in advance. Since 2023, 216 students have graduated from the Tashkent branch of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI.
The English version of this material was generated with the assistance of AI translation tools and may differ slightly from the original text.
