en.Wedoany.com Reported - IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi visited Uzbekistan to attend the first concrete pouring ceremony for the country's small modular reactor project and discussed nuclear power cooperation with Uzbek officials.

During the visit, Grossi held a meeting with Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, where both sides discussed Uzbekistan's nuclear power program and cooperation with the IAEA. The talks also covered efforts to expand access to cancer treatment under the IAEA's "Rays of Hope" initiative.

Grossi attended the first concrete pouring ceremony for Uzbekistan's small modular reactor (SMR) project, marking the official start of construction and a key step in the country's long-term energy strategy. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin participated in the ceremony via video link.

The project is being implemented by Uzbekistan's national atomic company Uzatom in cooperation with Russia's Rosatom, using the RITM-200N reactor. This SMR project is part of a broader nuclear power program that also includes large reactor units. The first small modular reactor is expected to begin operation around 2029, supported by international cooperation in fuel supply and operator training.

According to current plans, Uzbekistan is developing a combination of two small modular reactors and two large VVER-1000 units to meet growing electricity demand and diversify its energy mix. The IAEA supports Uzbekistan through technical cooperation, helping to strengthen its regulatory framework, enhance nuclear and radiation safety levels, and build workforce capacity for the safe and reliable development of nuclear power.

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