Italy's Ansaldo Energia has signed a memorandum of understanding with Uzbekistan's Uzatom Atomic Energy Agency to explore collaboration in advanced nuclear technologies and the development of small modular reactors.

A 205-tonne ingot of special alloy steel to be used in the production of the planned small modular reactor in Uzbekistan has been cast at AEM-Special Steels in Saint Petersburg.

Preparatory work on the buildings required to support construction and administration of the planned small modular reactor project in the Jizzakh region of Uzbekistan has begun.

The South Djengeldi uranium project will be developed by Nurlikum Mining - and Japanese company ITOCHU Corporation is joining the French and Uzbek companies in the joint venture.

Strategic agreements signed by Uzbek interests during a conference held in Samarkand include cooperation agreements with international organisations, business interests and academia.

As a one-day international conference on nuclear energy takes place, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that the country is to work with the International Atomic Energy Agency to expand cooperation on nuclear energy development. Uzbekistan's national atomic agency Uzatom and World Nuclear Association have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote bilateral cooperation.

The signature of a protocol by UzAtom's Directorate for Construction of a Nuclear Power Plant and JSC Atomstroyexport - the engineering division of Russia's Rosatom - means work can begin at the site of Uzbekistan's first nuclear power plant.

Infrastructure work for a six-unit small modular reactor nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan is expected to begin in the autumn, after the signing of a protocol on the entry into force of the construction contract signed last month.

An agreement between Uzbekistan and Russia will see a six-unit small modular reactor nuclear power plant built in the Jizzakh region of Uzbekistan, with construction work due to begin as early as this summer.