The key facts
- Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced plans for a second and third nuclear power plant at a meeting with energy investors
- Uranium production: ~4 thousand tons in 2024 (5th place in the world), 7 thousand tons in 2025, target — 8 thousand tons in 2026 and 15 thousand tons by 2030
- Nuclear plant construction is seen as diversification of an energy system dependent on natural gas
Plans for a Second and Third Nuclear Power Plant
The nuclear power plant under construction in Jizzakh will likely not be the only one in Uzbekistan. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, on Friday, at a meeting with energy sector investors, announced plans to build a second and even a third nuclear power plant. “Tomorrow we will talk with investors about building a second nuclear power plant with new partners. We pay great attention to nuclear power plants, our uranium production is growing. We have attracted large investments in uranium mining and have accumulated experience. We have started the first nuclear power plant, and we have plans for both a second and a third,” the president is quoted as saying by Kun.uz.
Growth in Uranium Production
According to the World Nuclear Association, in 2024 Uzbekistan ranked fifth in the world in uranium production — about 4 thousand tons. According to the Geology Committee, in 2025 the figure reached 7 thousand tons; for 2026 the task is set to raise it to 8 thousand tons, and by 2030 — to 15 thousand tons.
Energy Context
As Kun.uz notes, building two or three nuclear power plants using local raw materials looks attractive in terms of long-term diversification of the energy system, which currently relies mainly on natural gas, and reducing dependence on it. It is also noted that by 2030 the share of renewable energy sources should reach 54%.
