On October 19, 2018 a solemn ceremony was held in Uzbekistan to celebrate the launch of the first NPP construction project in Uzbekistan. The event marked the beginning of investigation studies to select the construction site for the future NPP, ROSATOM press service reports.
The President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, who was in Uzbekistan with a state visit, joined the event by way of a videoconference from Tashkent. The Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Alisher Sultanov and Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM Alexey Likhachev, who attended the ceremony at one of the potential construction sites, reported to the Presidents on their readiness to start investigation activities.
“The creation and development of the nuclear power sector, initiated by the decision of the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, marks a new history for the country’s energy industry and stimulates stable economic development and increased quality of life for the population,” noted Alisher Sultanov.
After the welcome addresses, the leaders of the two countries pressed a symbolic button, launching drilling operations to sample soil at one of the priority NPP construction sites. These sites were selected based on the results of seismological, geological, ecological and economic feasibility studies.
Commenting on the event, Alexey Likhachev said: “In Uzbekistan ROSATOM will build the most advanced Generation III+ nuclear power plant with two VVER-1200 power units that meets all international safety requirements.”
In addition, in the framework of the event, ROSATOM, the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Uzatom signed a Memorandum on cooperation in the field of personnel education and training for the nuclear power sector and related industries of Uzbekistan.