The first export small modular reactor in the world is now under construction
On June 4th, 2026, concrete met earth in Uzbekistan's Jizzakh Region, and with it, a long-theorized chapter of nuclear history quietly began. ROSATOM, Russia's state nuclear corporation, has broken ground on the world's first export small modular reactor — a facility designed not merely to power a nation, but to prove that nuclear energy can be made accessible to countries once priced out of it entirely. Watched by two heads of state and sanctioned by the IAEA, the moment carries weight beyond its geography: it is a test of whether the promise of scalable, flexible nuclear power can survive contact with reality.
- The world's first export small modular reactor has moved from concept to construction, with 133 cubic meters of concrete marking the formal start of a project years in the making.
- Uzbekistan stands to gain roughly 14% of its national electricity demand from a single facility — a transformative injection of capacity for a country racing to modernize its industrial base.
- The ceremony's video link between a Central Asian construction site and St. Petersburg, with Putin, Mirziyoyev, and the IAEA's Director General all present, signals that this is as much a geopolitical statement as an engineering milestone.
- ROSATOM is not just building a reactor — it is constructing a model, with plans for a surrounding 'science city,' domestic nuclear industry development, and a replicable template for other emerging markets.
- Nations like Namibia, already producing uranium and weighing their energy futures, are watching Jizzakh closely — this project is the closest thing the world has to a proof of concept for small modular reactor deployment at scale.
On June 4th, 2026, workers poured concrete into the ground at a site in Uzbekistan's Jizzakh Region — an ordinary act that carried extraordinary significance. Connected by video link to St. Petersburg, where Russian President Vladimir Putin and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev watched alongside IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, the moment marked the official start of construction on the world's first export small modular nuclear reactor.
The plant is being built by ROSATOM, Russia's state nuclear corporation, and is expected to supply around 14 percent of Uzbekistan's total electricity demand once operational. Under IAEA standards, the foundation pour — 133 cubic meters of concrete, with roughly 10,000 more to follow — formally transitions the project from planning into active construction. ROSATOM's leadership framed the work as the beginning of something larger: not just a power plant, but a cluster of associated infrastructure and a planned 'science city' devoted to research, training, and industrial development.
ROSATOM Director General Alexey Likhachev outlined three interlocking goals: building the reactor, developing Uzbekistan's domestic nuclear capacity, and constructing the social infrastructure to support both. The ambitions were aired publicly at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where the company outlined its broader strategy for small modular reactor deployment across multiple countries.
For uranium-producing nations like Namibia — which already maintains nuclear cooperation agreements with Russia and is actively evaluating its energy options — the Uzbekistan project serves as a living reference point. Small modular reactors have long been promoted as a solution for countries unable to justify the cost and scale of conventional nuclear plants. Uzbekistan is the first place that promise is being tested at export scale, with full international oversight. How construction unfolds, whether costs hold, and how the plant ultimately performs will determine whether this becomes a template others follow — or a caution others heed.
On the morning of June 4th, 2026, concrete was poured into the earth at a construction site in Uzbekistan's Jizzakh Region. The moment was unremarkable in appearance—workers, machinery, the ordinary machinery of building. But the ceremony connecting that site by video link to St. Petersburg, where Russian President Vladimir Putin and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev watched, signaled something the nuclear industry has been working toward for years: the first export small modular reactor plant in the world was officially under construction.
ROSATOM, Russia's state nuclear corporation, is building the facility. The project represents a shift in how nuclear power might be deployed in countries without the resources or geography for massive conventional reactors. Once operational, the plant is expected to generate enough electricity to meet roughly 14 percent of Uzbekistan's total demand—a substantial contribution to a nation working to modernize its industrial base and expand economic capacity. The International Atomic Energy Agency's Director General Rafael Grossi addressed the ceremony participants, lending the moment the weight of international oversight and legitimacy.
The foundation pouring itself was symbolic. Under IAEA standards, this marks the formal transition from planning and preparation into active construction. The initial pour involved 133 cubic meters of concrete; the full project will require approximately 10,000 cubic meters before completion. Andrey Petrov, ROSATOM's First Deputy Director General for Nuclear Energy, framed the work as the beginning of something larger than a single power plant. The company envisions associated infrastructure development and what officials are calling a "science city"—a hub of research, training, and industrial activity clustered around the reactor site.
Alexey Likhachev, ROSATOM's Director General, articulated three objectives for the project: constructing the nuclear facility itself, developing Uzbekistan's domestic nuclear industry capacity, and building the social infrastructure necessary to support both. This layered approach reflects a broader strategy in how Russia is positioning itself in emerging nuclear markets. The company discussed these ambitions at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, outlining plans for small modular reactor deployment across multiple countries.
For nations like Namibia, which produces significant quantities of uranium and is actively evaluating nuclear energy's role in its energy future, the Uzbekistan project functions as a practical reference point. Namibia already maintains nuclear cooperation with Russia through training programs and skills development initiatives. Officials there are watching the Uzbekistan construction closely, viewing it as a concrete example of how international partnerships can translate into functioning nuclear infrastructure. Other uranium-producing countries considering similar paths will likely do the same, using this project as a template for what small modular reactor deployment actually looks like on the ground.
The broader context matters. Small modular reactors have long been presented as a solution for countries that cannot justify the enormous capital expenditure and land requirements of conventional nuclear plants. They promise flexibility, scalability, and the possibility of nuclear power for nations previously locked out of the technology. Uzbekistan's project is the first time this promise is being tested at export scale, with international oversight and the full machinery of a major nuclear power behind it. What happens next—how quickly construction proceeds, whether costs remain manageable, how the plant performs once operational—will shape whether other countries move forward with similar projects or remain cautious.
Notable Quotes
The project represents the start of broader high-tech cooperation, including plans for associated infrastructure and a science city development around the plant— Andrey Petrov, ROSATOM First Deputy Director General for Nuclear Energy
Three core objectives: constructing a nuclear power plant, developing Uzbekistan's nuclear industry, and building supporting social infrastructure— Alexey Likhachev, ROSATOM Director General
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does it matter that this is the first export small modular reactor? Couldn't Russia have built one anywhere?
Because export means it's being built to a standard that other countries can replicate and trust. The IAEA is watching. The design has to work not just for Russia, but as a model that Namibia or others can point to and say, yes, we'll do that too.
And Uzbekistan gets 14 percent of its electricity from this one plant?
Yes. That's substantial for a single facility. It means the country can redirect resources elsewhere, expand industry, reduce dependence on other power sources. For Uzbekistan, it's not just energy—it's economic leverage.
What's this "science city" they keep mentioning?
It's infrastructure around the plant. Research facilities, training centers, housing for workers and scientists. They're building an entire ecosystem, not just a reactor. It's meant to develop local expertise and keep talent in the region.
Is Namibia actually going to build one of these?
Not yet. They're watching. They produce uranium, they need power, and they're skeptical of conventional nuclear. If Uzbekistan's project works smoothly and stays on budget, Namibia and others will move faster. If there are problems, they'll wait longer.
What could go wrong?
Cost overruns, construction delays, technical issues during startup. Any of those would ripple through the entire emerging market for small modular reactors. This isn't just one plant—it's a proof of concept for an entire technology category.
Why is Putin involved in pouring concrete?
Symbolism and politics. Russia is positioning itself as the nuclear technology leader for developing nations. Putin's presence says: this is important to us, we're committed, you can trust us with your energy future.