Uzbekistan Hits the Brakes on Nuclear Deal as Rosatom’s Central Asia Push Loses Momentum
Uzbekistan’s long-anticipated nuclear power program is entering a more cautious phase, with mounting doubts over the pace and structure of cooperation with Russia’s state-owned nuclear giant Rosatom. An analysis by Eurasianet highlights growing headwinds for Rosatom as Tashkent reassesses its energy strategy amid economic recalibration, public scrutiny, and shifting geopolitical realities.
Construction of Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant — to be built by Rosatom — has effectively been put on hold. The pouring of concrete for the facility’s foundation, initially scheduled for March, has now been delayed until at least December, according to reporting republished by The Caspian Post.
While Uzbek officials cite technical considerations for the slowdown, unresolved financial arrangements — particularly related to nuclear fuel supply — also appear to be factors. In a statement, Uzbekistan’s nuclear energy agency said the start of construction is a “landmark event” that will proceed only after all permits and regulatory approvals are secured.
Uzbekistan has contracted Rosatom to build both large VVER-1000 reactors and smaller RITM-200N units, with the first reactor originally expected to come online as early as 2029. The RITM-200 design has so far been used to power Arctic nuclear icebreakers, and Uzbekistan would be the first country to deploy the model on land — a version that has not yet been thoroughly tested in terrestrial conditions.
Rosatom’s regional ambitions face additional pressure as Kazakhstan, where the company is also slated to build the country’s first nuclear reactor, recently signed an agreement with the United States to explore the use of American-developed small modular reactors, which officials say are cheaper and faster to construct.
Around the Region
In Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan drew attention with a social media post suggesting he would host a “dance party” on January 30, sharing an image of himself behind a drum kit — though it remains unclear whether the event is linked to his looming reelection campaign.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced a business mission to Azerbaijan on February 9–10, aiming to connect American firms with senior government officials and major players across sectors including energy, defense, healthcare, digital development, and finance.
Across the Caspian, Kazakhstan signaled friction within the Eurasian Economic Union by revealing plans to impose retaliatory tariffs on Russian and Belarusian vehicles and agricultural machinery.
Kyrgyzstan is in talks with an international consortium — including Germany’s Consulting Group GmbH — to construct three coal-fired power plants with a combined capacity exceeding one gigawatt, claiming the use of “clean coal” technologies.
Tajikistan, meanwhile, is accelerating its renewable energy push, with Saudi-based ACWA Power discussing plans for solar projects totaling 1.25 gigawatts following meetings in Dushanbe.
In Turkmenistan, U.S. officials led by Special Envoy Sergio Gor and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held talks with national leaders, offering broad statements on cooperation but few concrete details.
Afghanistan is also deepening economic ties with Central Asia, as Taliban officials met Turkmen representatives to advance the TAPI gas pipeline project, while Uzbek data shows Afghans accounted for more than 90 percent of business-related visits to Uzbekistan in 2025.
Overall, Uzbekistan’s nuclear hesitation reflects a broader recalibration in Central Asia, where governments are increasingly weighing cost, technology risks, and geopolitical exposure — a shift that is complicating Rosatom’s once-dominant regional expansion plans.
