Rosatom has announced plans to establish a training program for Uzbek technicians who will operate a planned nuclear facility in Uzbekistan, even as the Russian nuclear agency faces significant financial constraints. The program will focus on developing specialized training modules for an integrated nuclear plant designed to feature both large-scale and small modular reactors. According to statements from Uzbekistan’s nuclear energy agency, the training curriculum will require the creation of new instructional materials tailored to small reactor operations and will emphasize practical training components.
The training center itself is planned for construction near the prospective nuclear plant site in the Jizzakh region, approximately 125 miles southwest of Tashkent. Officials indicated that the facility would eventually be capable of training hundreds of Uzbek technicians and would incorporate advanced Russian training methodologies. The statement emphasized that this collaboration would create a qualified workforce for the integrated plant and establish a long-term foundation for developing human resources in Uzbekistan’s nuclear sector. However, no specific timeline was provided for when the training program would be ready to begin operations.
Rosatom has faced mounting financial pressures throughout 2026, raising questions about the timeline and viability of various nuclear projects. In July, Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev announced organizational cutbacks attributed to poor economic conditions, stating that some projects would need to be abandoned or postponed. The official indicated that continuing projects would be prioritized based on their potential for profitability by 2030. Western sanctions and ongoing military operations in Ukraine are widely viewed as significant factors constraining Rosatom’s financial position and operational capacity.
The announcement that work is proceeding on the Uzbek training center suggests that Moscow views the project as strategically important, even amid broader financial challenges. Rosatom officials have not publicly clarified where the Uzbek integrated plant project ranks among the agency’s priorities given current economic conditions.
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