On 17 March, the Institute for Advanced International Studies hosted a new session of its Frontier Talksseries entitled “The Geopolitics of ‘Peaceful Atom’ in 2026”. Organised by the Center for Energy Diplomacy and Geopolitics, the event brought together students, researchers, and experts for a timely discussion on the growing strategic importance of nuclear energy in regional and global affairs.

The session featured presentations by Dilshod Olimov, Head of the Center for Energy Diplomacy and Geopolitics at IAIS and PhD Researcher at UWED, and Shokhmirzo Umarov, Specialist at the “Uzatom” Agency.

Particular attention during the session was devoted to Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant project, presented as a landmark initiative for the country and the wider region. The speakers discussed the 2+2 model of the planned plant, including two VVER-1000 reactors and two RITM-200N small modular reactors, as well as the use of national uranium resources, a dry cooling system, and a projected deployment period of 2029–2035. Participants were also introduced to the latest progress in the project, including the completion of excavation works for Units 1 and 2 of the RITM-200N reactor and the planned start of concrete works on 24 March this year.

The discussion further explored broader international developments in the nuclear sphere, including Kazakhstan’s civil nuclear ambitions, the main signals of the 2026 Paris Nuclear Summit, Europe’s renewed debate over nuclear policy, and the growing role of nuclear power in global electricity generation. The speakers also addressed the expanding international dimension of Uzbekistan’s nuclear agenda, including emerging cooperation with the United States in the field of small modular reactors. The session concluded with an engaging question-and-answer segment, reflecting strong interest among participants in the geopolitical, economic, and technological dimensions of nuclear energy’s expanding role in the international system.