Once it is fully operational, the plant will generate approximately 17.2 billion kWh per year, about 14% of Uzbekistan's total energy requirements.

Uzbekistan says that it aims to have completed the design for the SMR project by the end of this year so that the "main phase of its implementation can begin in 2026".

Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev said: "Rosatom has confirmed its undisputed global leadership in nuclear energy by signing the first-ever export contract for the construction of a small nuclear power plant. This is not just a preliminary agreement; we are starting construction this summer."

Uzbekistan will allocate US$15.4bn to the development and building of these renewable projects.

The new agreement lays the foundations of an "exclusive strategic alliance for the development of new uranium mines in Uzbekistan, beyond the Djengeldi project" and is a "significant broadening of the scope of the collaboration", Orano said.

Uzbekistan is the world’s seventh-ranking uranium supplier, according to World Nuclear Association, and was a significant source of Russian uranium supply until it gained independence in 1991.

The country aims to raise the solar and wind capacity to 8,000 MW by 2026.

Solar and wind currently account for less than 1% of the country’s installed capacity, with 4 MW and 1 MW, respectively.

ACWA Power has signed an implementation agreement with the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade and the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan to build a 1.5 GW wind project in Karakalpakstan, in western Uzbekistan.

The two wind power plants, which will be powered by 200 turbines, have a total investment value of US$1.3bn.