Russia will build a small nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan, the first project of its kind in post-Soviet Central Asia, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on Monday (27), in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The nuclear deal, if implemented, will showcase Russia's ability to export not only energy but also high-tech products to new Asian markets, at a time when the West is increasing pressure against the country through sanctions.
Putin said Russia would put US$400 million (R$2 billion) into a US$500 million (R$2.5 billion) joint investment fund to finance projects in Uzbekistan.
Mirziyoyev also highlighted that he was interested in buying more oil and gas from Russia, a reversal of a decades-old practice in which Moscow imported hydrocarbons from Central Asia.
The Uzbek president described Putin's visit as “historic”.
“This heralds the beginning of a new era in comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance relations between our countries,” he said.
Putin also called the Asian country a “strategic partner and reliable ally” of Moscow.
According to documents published by the Kremlin, Russian state nuclear company Rosatom will build up to six nuclear reactors with a capacity of 55 megawatts each in Uzbekistan, a project on a much smaller scale than the 2.4 gigawatts agreed in 2018, which has not yet been completed. has been finished.
There are no nuclear power plants in any of Central Asia's five former Soviet republics, although Uzbekistan and its neighbor Kazakhstan, both uranium producers, have long noted that their growing economies need them.
The Kazakh project, however, can only move forward after a national referendum that has not yet been scheduled.
“Almost all major countries in the world ensure their energy security and sustainable development with the help of nuclear energy,” commented Mirziyoyev.
Energy supply
Taking advantage of Russia's aim to redirect its gas exports to Asia amid conflicts with the West over the war in Ukraine, Uzbekistan began importing Russian natural gas in October last year through the same pipeline that previously pumped it towards reverse.
Although its own gas production remains significant, at around 50 billion cubic meters per year, Uzbekistan struggles to fully satisfy domestic demand. Thus, Russian supplies made it possible to avoid an energy crisis in the country.
“Exports [de gás] they are well advanced and we are ready to increase their volume, if necessary”, highlighted Putin.
According to Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan also wants to increase imports of Russian oil.
The two leaders also pointed out that their governments were working on large projects in the mining, metallurgical and chemical sectors.
Uzbekistan, whose economy relies heavily on remittances from migrant workers working in Russia, has maintained close ties with Moscow even after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
However, Mirziyoyev and other leaders in the region have never spoken in support of what the Kremlin calls a special military operation in Ukraine, and all countries in the region are also working with the West on projects such as cargo transport routes aimed at bypassing Russia. .
Source: CNN Brasil
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