U.S. promotes small nuclear reactors in Uzbekistan amid energy needs

The United States is promoting small modular nuclear reactors in Uzbekistan to help meet the country's rising energy demand, The Times of Central Asia reported. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted this initiative during his visit to Samarkand, emphasizing efforts to modernize Uzbekistan's electric grid and gas distribution network.

Uzbekistan has shown interest in small modular reactor designs from companies such as Holtec, GE Hitachi, and NuScale since 2025, according to the World Nuclear Association. These reactors typically have capacities up to 300 megawatts and can be manufactured in factories for onsite assembly, allowing utilities to add capacity in stages.

This nuclear push is part of Uzbekistan's broader strategy to expand electricity supply as domestic gas production declines. The country, once a net gas exporter, became a net importer in 2023, with gas output falling over 16% in early 2026. Natural gas accounted for 76% of Uzbekistan's electricity output in 2023, so reducing gas use in power generation could ease import pressures and support industry.

Meanwhile, Russia's Rosatom is developing Uzbekistan's first nuclear complex, combining large VVER-1000 reactors with smaller RITM-200N units, totaling about 2.1 gigawatts of capacity. The U.S. has not announced specific suppliers, financing, or construction schedules for its small modular reactors in Uzbekistan.