Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, citing a conversation with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, stated at the Uzbek-Serbian business forum in Belgrade on September 8 that Uzbekistan is implementing two nuclear projects: one jointly with Russia and the second with China.
According to the Serbian leader, the President of Uzbekistan emphasized that one nuclear facility with the Russian Federation and one with the People's Republic of China is insufficient, so the country intends to continue increasing its energy capacity. Vučić cited Uzbekistan as an example of a state that is proactively preparing the necessary infrastructure in anticipation of projected growth in electricity demand for areas such as data centers, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and innovative projects.
Furthermore, the head of Serbia mentioned discussions on gas pricing, noting that both countries receive fuel at a price below market rate due to access to Russian gas and Uzbekistan's own reserves.
Previously, Shavkat Mirziyoyev had informed that active preparations are underway for the second nuclear power plant project during his visit to the Khorezm region on August 17; however, the partner country was not officially named at that time. Details of the second project, including its location, capacity, and implementation timeline, remain unpublished.
Regarding the first project in Jizzakh region, its total cost is estimated at $9.5 billion. Currently, 450 specialists and over 100 units of specialized equipment are involved at the construction site. The share of locally produced goods in this project currently stands at 21%, equivalent to $1.9 billion. The President instructed to increase this share to at least 30% and transfer 65% of the construction and installation works to national enterprises. The project is planned to provide employment for about 7 thousand local residents.
In Farish district, it is also proposed to create an industrial zone of at least 200 hectares, which should accommodate 100 joint ventures. A satellite city is planned for the employees of the NPP and their families, designed for approximately 33 thousand people. It was also previously reported that an agreement was reached between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to develop cooperation in the fields of nuclear, radiation, and environmental safety during the operation and construction of NPPs.