Belarus has expressed readiness to assist Uzbekistan in constructing a nuclear power plant, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said during a meeting with Uzbekistan’s ambassador to Minsk, Rakhmatulla Nazarov.
«We work with the Russians in many places around the world where they build nuclear power units. If this suits you, you can come at any time when necessary,» Lukashenko said, according to the Belarusian state news agency BelTA.
During the meeting, Nazarov noted that Belarus has made significant progress in developing its nuclear energy sector. He said Tashkent is particularly interested in Minsk’s experience in building a specialised town for nuclear industry workers.
The ambassador added that Uzbekistan hopes to send representatives to Belarus in the near future to study this experience.
Lukashenko also said there are no major obstacles to increasing trade between Minsk and Tashkent to $2 bn. Bilateral trade reached $855 mln last year, while more than 200 companies involving Belarusian capital currently operate in Uzbekistan.
Nazarov stressed that the economies of the two countries complement rather than compete with each other.
In 2024, Tashkent and Moscow signed an agreement to build a nuclear power plant in Jizzakh Region.
Once completed, the facility is expected to supply electricity to residents of Jizzakh, Samarkand Region and Navoi Region.
Uzbek authorities say the nuclear plant will support the development of agriculture and industry, while also reducing the country’s dependence on natural gas and the seasonal variability of renewable energy sources.
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