Russia and Uzbekistan have signed an agreement to build a small nuclear power plant in the Central Asian country. The agreement was one of several deals signed on May 27 in Tashkent between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, RFE/RL’s Russian Service reported.
The Uzbek leader hailed the project as “vital” in a statement released by his press service after the talks, noting that Uzbekistan had “its own large reserves of uranium.”
Meanwhile, Putin vowed to “do everything in order to work effectively” on Uzbekistan’s nuclear energy market.
If the agreement is enacted, the nuclear plant will become the first in Central Asia, further cementing Russia’s influence in the region.
Putin said Russia would inject $400 million into a joint investment fund of $500 million to finance projects in Uzbekistan.
Mirziyoyev also said Tashkent was interested in buying more oil and gas from Russia.
The Russian president pledged to increase gas deliveries to Uzbekistan.
Putin and Mirziyoyev also discussed migration, with the Russian leader reassuring the Uzbek president that his government would ensure good working conditions and provide social protection for migrant workers from Uzbekistan.
