TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 13. Russian Rosatom plans to widely involve local construction companies, suppliers of materials and equipment in nuclear power plant (NPP) construction project in Uzbekistan's Jizzakh region, a source from the corporation told Trend.
“The constructed NPP will allow saving about 3 billion cubic meters of gas annually. In addition, more than 8,000 new jobs will be created in Uzbekistan during the construction and operation of the plant. Localization will ensure significant revenues to local businesses and tax revenues to the republic's budget,” the source said.
According to the corporation, the construction of a nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan is a strategic project of bilateral cooperation that meets the interests of both countries, and Rosatom pays special attention to this project, trying to adapt it as much as possible to the needs of Uzbek partner.
Rosatom State Corporation and the Uzatom Agency are working on the draft general contract for the construction of NPPs, which is a large and multifaceted work.
“NPP construction is always a large-scale international project, requiring thoroughness and precision in every detail. Russian and Uzbek experts work together to make the most effective and verified decisions and plan the use of the best technology from a variety of suppliers,” Rosatom noted.
Thus, together with the Uzbek customers and international experts, technical issues are being worked out on the integration of the NPP into the energy system, its redundancy and operation in conjunction with renewable energy sources, reduction of water volumes for the plant operation, maximum power generation taking into account the climatic conditions of the site, etc.
"The construction of the NPP will allow to save money on the cost of the power plant, save water for the operation of the plant, and maximize power generation taking into account the climatic conditions of the site," the source added.
Earlier in 2017, Russia and Uzbekistan concluded an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy.
In 2018 an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the construction of a Russian-designed nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan consisting of two power units with a capacity of 1.2 GW each with VVER-1200 reactors was signed.
The site for the construction of the plant has been selected - near Lake Tuzkan in Jizzakh region. Engineering surveys have been completed at the site, and its suitability for NPP construction has been confirmed. The optimal technical configuration of the project has been determined.