Nuclear Safety Brings America Into Russia's Uzbek Energy Project

AI Summary

The US and Uzbekistan signed a memorandum of understanding focusing on nuclear safety cooperation for Uzbekistan's planned first nuclear power plant. The agreement provides US technical assistance for monitoring, safety operations, and disaster response in collaboration with Russian construction efforts.

Uzbekistan still wants Russia to build its first nuclear plant, but when it comes to safety, Tashkent is turning to the United States. Meeting on the sidelines of the recent general conference session of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, US and Uzbek officials signed a memorandum of understanding covering monitoring, safe operations and disaster response. The memo additionally contains provisions to enable US technical assistance to improve regulatory guidelines and training programs.   “The memorandum will expand…