Rosatom and Uzbekistan sign MoU on nuclear infrastructure development
The MoU agrees cooperation intended to develop the national nuclear infrastructure of Uzbekistan as well as raising the awareness of nuclear technology and its applications among the general public, Rosatom said.
"Special attention will be paid to the training programme for teachers in Uzbekistan, arrangement and performance of technical tours to the Russian nuclear power plants as well as apprenticeships in the Russian nuclear power plant training centres, including visits to full-scale simulators and laboratories," Rosatom said.
The MoU also provides for "participation of Uzbek specialists in the joint activities of Rosatom Technical Academy and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)".
Uzbekistan will be able to get support from experts at the Rosatom Technical Academy in training for all stages of the implementation of its nuclear power programme and specialists from Uzbekistan will be able to take part in the upcoming International Atomic Energy Agency training in St Petersburg, Russia, in August.
Uzbekistan is the world’s seventh-ranking uranium supplier, according to World Nuclear Association, and was a significant source of Russian uranium supply until it gained independence in 1991. Japanese and Chinese joint ventures are active in uranium development in the country.
In September 2018, an intergovernmental agreement was signed for construction by Rosatom of two VVER-1200 reactors to be commissioned about 2028, and an electricity generation strategy outlined by the Ministry of Energy in 2020 envisaged 15% of the Uzbekistan's electricity coming from nuclear by 2030.