The head of "Rosatom" talked about the construction of a nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan and the future of the nuclear industry in the region. An interview with Alexey Likhachev.

The head of "Rosatom" spoke about the construction of a nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan and the future of the atomic industry in the region. Interview with Alexey Likhachev
April 23, 2026, 09:20  2981
Uzbekistan, Tashkent – AN Podrobno.uz. 

The nuclear power plant project in Uzbekistan is seen as a key element of the country’s long-term economic and technological development. This was stated by the General Director of the state corporation "Rosatom," Alexey Likhachev, in an interview with a correspondent from Podrobno.uz.

According to him, cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia in the nuclear sector goes far beyond energy and includes training personnel, developing science, creating new industries, and forming so-called "nuclear infrastructure." The central element of this process is the integrated nuclear power plant project, which combines different types of reactors and energy generation approaches.

In the interview, Likhachev addressed not only the Uzbek project but also the broader context – from the development of nuclear energy in Central Asia to safety issues of existing facilities and the management of spent nuclear fuel. In particular, he noted that "Rosatom" sees it as part of a closed fuel cycle, which allows for the reuse of materials and reduces environmental impact.

Cooperation as a Foundation
According to Alexey Likhachev, cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia in the nuclear sphere is traditionally seen as a sign of a high level of trust between the countries – both at the level of governments and at the level of leaders.

He emphasized that nuclear energy cannot develop without political and institutional trust, as it requires making complex and long-term decisions at all levels.

Alexey Likhachev noted that the interaction between the countries in this area has been established over decades, and after Uzbekistan gained independence, it was built on an equal and mutually beneficial basis. This involves both cooperation in the raw material base – in particular, in the uranium industry – as well as scientific interaction, including work with academic institutions.

He added that the current stage of cooperation goes beyond traditional areas. In addition to fuel supplies and interaction on international platforms, the countries are moving towards a more comprehensive partnership model, focusing on the development of their own nuclear generation and infrastructure.

A key element of this transition, Likhachev called the decision to create a nuclear power plant, which he characterized as "particular value" in bilateral relations. He stated that such projects become not only energy-related but also systemic – influencing the economy, industry, and technological development of the country.

Emphasis on Flexibility and an "Integrated" Model
The nuclear power plant project is becoming a key element of cooperation, which is referred to by Rosatom as "integrated." According to Alexey Likhachev, this is not just about building another power unit, but about a new logic in the organization of the entire energy system.

"The decision to create an integrated nuclear power plant is, so to speak, a diamond in this cooperation," he noted, emphasizing that this project goes beyond classical nuclear generation.

The essence of the model lies in combining reactors of varying capacities on one site. As Likhachev explained, it involves large base generation and small reactors, capable of responding quickly to changes in demand.

"On the one hand, these are very proven solutions… But with this reliability, the comprehensive solution is innovative," he said.

According to him, such a configuration allows for stable electricity generation while flexibly managing the load. While large power units form the backbone of the energy system, smaller capacities can quickly respond to localized peaks in consumption.

"We can actively use both large base capacity and a capacity of 55 megawatts – to quickly respond to specific increases in demand," Alexey Likhachev explained.

He separately emphasized the economic component of the project. The integration of infrastructure allows for reduced capital costs through the consolidation of systems, making the model more efficient compared to traditional approaches to building nuclear power plants.

According to Rosatom's position, the project in Uzbekistan is not viewed as a separate facility but as the basis for forming a complete industry – with its own infrastructure, competencies, and technological base.

"Nuclear City"
The nuclear power plant project, according to Alexey Likhachev, is initially seen as broader than just an energy facility. It involves the formation of a fully-fledged social and economic environment around the station – a so-called "nuclear city."

He reminded that a similar model emerged during the Soviet era when the nuclear industry developed as a closed system – not only with production but also with a special social infrastructure.

"We did not just build nuclear power plants – we created facilities for the use of nuclear energy and established social policies in a special manner," emphasized Alexey Likhachev.

He noted that cities forming around such facilities traditionally have higher levels of education, social environment, and quality of life. This model, he asserts, is still preserved today – already in Rosatom's modern projects.

"In the cities where our stations are located… there is a high level of education, serious social policies, and skills and competencies are passed down from generation to generation," he said.

Alexey Likhachev stressed that this approach is also being applied to foreign projects. As an example, he mentioned a city in Belarus, which has effectively transformed from a small settlement into a dynamically developing center during the implementation of the nuclear project.

"Fifteen years ago, it was just a small district center, and now it's a notable municipality that leads in terms of growth in average salaries," he noted.

According to him, the impact of a nuclear power plant does not just limit itself to electricity generation. It becomes a driver for the development of education, business, and social infrastructure.

"Nuclear technology provides not only an impulse for electricity generation… but also significantly raises the standard of living and morale," highlighted the head of "Rosatom."

In the case of Uzbekistan, according to his words, it involves creating a similar model – with the placement of not only energy capacities but also new technological directions.

"It would be great if these competencies were located in the future nuclear city, to be a magnet for attracting creative, intelligent people," said Alexey Likhachev.

Training Personnel
One of the key conditions for the implementation of the nuclear project in Uzbekistan, according to Alexey Likhachev, is the formation of a domestic personnel base. This is not just about the targeted training of specialists, but about creating a full-fledged professional environment. Alexey Likhachev emphasized that work in this direction is already underway and covers several levels – from engineering education to scientific training.

"This is a whole army of specialists," he noted, referring to the number of Uzbek students and engineers involved in training and education.

He mentioned that in recent years, the country has already trained dozens of relevant specialists, and training continues both within Uzbekistan and beyond its borders. In particular, hundreds of students are being trained at Russian universities under quotas and programs related to the nuclear industry.

"Engineers have already been trained, several hundred more are being educated, and about 900 young citizens of Uzbekistan are studying at Russian universities," said Alexey Likhachev. Furthermore, it encompasses not only formal education but also the establishment of a sustainable professional environment, where knowledge and skills will be passed down within the industry.

The head of Rosatom also noted that Uzbekistan already has a foundation for such development – specifically, research institutes and research infrastructure.

"You have rich traditions, there is a nuclear research institute, research reactors," he stressed, adding that transitioning to an industrial level will allow for scaling the use of these competencies. According to him, the launch of nuclear generation opens up opportunities for broader application of technologies – not only in energy but also in other sectors of the economy.

"Transitioning to an industrial dimension is an opportunity to widely use these technologies and related technologies in the national economy," Alexey Likhachev noted.

Central Asia – Economic Growth and a New Energy Agenda
Alexey Likhachev considers the project in Uzbekistan within a broader regional context. According to him, Central Asia is currently becoming one of the key directions for the development of nuclear energy – primarily due to the rapid growth of the economy and population.

"We feel very comfortable in Central Asia," he noted, adding that the region demonstrates stable development rates. In his assessment, economic growth in the region's countries reaches about 7% annually, while energy consumption continues to increase rapidly. At the same time, the demographic factor only amplifies this trend.

"Population growth, economic growth generate demand for electricity," emphasized Alexey Likhachev. In these conditions, nuclear energy, according to him, becomes one of the key responses to the growing load on energy systems.

He cited examples from other countries in the region where similar projects are already being implemented or planned. In particular, in Kazakhstan, a decision was made to build a nuclear power plant with the participation of "Rosatom" following a referendum and an international competition.

"Kazakhstan held a large international competition and determined the leader of the consortium – it was the state corporation 'Rosatom,'" he noted. He mentioned that cooperation with Kazakhstan also involves uranium mining, scientific projects, and export directions, and is now moving to the practical implementation of nuclear generation.

In Kyrgyzstan, as reported by Alexey Likhachev, the interaction is developing in different directions – from the elimination of nuclear legacy facilities to energy projects. Specifically, it involves building energy facilities, including projects in hydropower and other initiatives.

Safety and Crisis Zones
In addition to economic and technological issues, Alexey Likhachev addressed sensitive topics related to the safety of nuclear facilities in conditions of geopolitical tension. Speaking about the situation in the Middle East, he noted that it is not anticipated that the conflict will be resolved quickly.

"We all want peace, but for now, there are too many contradictory signals to expect any quick reconciliation," he said.

In these conditions, according to him, the company was forced to reduce personnel presence at the sites. A significant part of the staff was evacuated, and only those who voluntarily agreed to maintain the infrastructure remained on the facilities.

"We reasonably completed the evacuation, more than 600 people were evacuated… only volunteers remained," Alexey Likhachev noted. Their task is to maintain the viability of the facilities and communication with clients despite the halt of construction work. He emphasized that this applies not only to technical infrastructure but also to a broader complex – even regarding security conditions on the territory.

"There is an infrastructure around that needs to be maintained. The safety of our people also depends on that," he said, citing measures to control the environment as an example.

Alexey Likhachev also touched upon the situation surrounding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which continues to operate in unstable conditions. According to him, the plant remains functional, but the situation is complicated.

He explained that power supply to the plant is being implemented through a limited scheme – through one external line, while the second remains damaged. Efforts to restore it are complicated by the current conditions.

Despite this, safety systems continue to operate normally. In particular, in the event of a disconnection from external power supply, backup energy sources are automatically activated.

"All diesel generators operated as per the standard scheme," emphasized Alexey Likhachev. He also noted that the plant's personnel have adapted to working under such conditions and are able to respond promptly to possible disruptions.

However, he warned that risks remain not only for the plant itself but also for the city that is part of the nuclear infrastructure.

"The city of nuclear workers is part of the safety infrastructure," he said, adding that as a result of shelling, there are casualties.

Fuel Cycle and Ecology
Alexey Likhachev paid special attention in the interview to the management of spent nuclear fuel – a topic that remains one of the most sensitive in the context of nuclear power plant construction.

When asked about the possible processing scheme for fuel for the Uzbek station, he emphasized that there are currently no definitive legal agreements, but the approach has already been determined.

"We have not yet moved to legal formalization, but it is a very important topic," said Alexey Likhachev. According to him, Rosatom views spent fuel not as waste but as part of a closed technological cycle, in which a significant share of materials can be reused.

"Spent fuel is part of a large closed fuel cycle," he said.

This involves technology that allows for the extraction of fissile materials and their reuse – including in the production of new fuel. Such an approach, according to Alexey Likhachev, brings several advantages: it reduces waste volume and lessens the ecological impact of the project.

"This is our competitive advantage – not just to build a plant and provide it with fuel, but also to minimize ecological impact," he emphasized.