Nuclear Safety Brings America Into Russia's Uzbek Energy Project

Uzbekistan continues to seek Russia's involvement in constructing its first nuclear plant, but the nation is increasingly relying on the United States for safety assurances. During a side meeting at the recent International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conference in Vienna, US and Uzbek officials inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing nuclear safety protocols.

The MoU covers aspects such as monitoring, safe operations, and disaster response, along with provisions for US technical assistance to bolster regulatory guidelines and training programs. Uzbekistan's Committee on Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety stated that this memorandum will expand the exchange of information and expertise between the two nations, ultimately contributing to nuclear safety in peaceful energy use.

Uzbek nuclear officials also engaged in discussions with their Russian counterparts during the IAEA gathering. However, no formal agreements or memoranda were signed during this meeting. Uzbekistan's statement highlighted that ongoing bilateral dialogue facilitates the advancement of statutory inspection methodologies and ensures rigorous enforcement of safety requirements throughout the design, construction, and operation stages of nuclear power plants (NPPs).

The US-Uzbek memorandum provides additional evidence that Uzbekistan is losing confidence in Russia's state-controlled nuclear entity, Rosatom, to meet its obligations in building the Central Asian state's first nuclear cluster. This cluster will consist of two large-scale reactors and two small modular types, with construction facing delays due to speculation about Rosatom's financial stability.

In early September, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the formation of an international consortium to oversee the project, aiming to improve project management and strengthen technical oversight.

As reported by Eurasianet.