BAKU, Azerbaijan, Oct. 21
By Fakhri Vakilov-Trend:
Director of the Agency for the Development of Atomic Energy of Uzbekistan Uzatom Zhurabek Mirzamakhmudov told reporters about the economic benefits that the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Uzbekistan, Trend reports citing Uzbek media.
"These are an investment component, the development of infrastructure and the reduction of natural gas consumption, the substitution of which can be exported or processed more deeply," the director of Uzatom said.
Mirzamakhmudov stated that the energy intensity of the future nuclear power plant is illustrated by the fact that 630 grams of uranium replace 70 tons of coal and 140 tons of wood.
"This involves 2.4 gigawatts of additional capacity, saving 3-3.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas, as well as the socio-economic development of the region including opening of up to 8,000 jobs during construction and about 2,500 during operation," Mirzamakhmudov said.
Moreover, the construction of NPP will provide an annual reduction of emission of to 14 million tons of carbon dioxide and 36 tons of nitrogen dioxide.
Furthermore, the director said, international experts have estimated that every dollar invested in the construction of nuclear power plants will return to the economy on average 5-6 times.
Agency for the Development of Atomic Energy "Uzatom" under Uzbekistan’s Cabinet of Ministers was established a year ago according to the decree of President Shakat Mirziyoyev.
Its competence includes the development and implementation of a unified state policy and strategic directions in the field of development and use of nuclear energy.
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