France and Uzbekistan have forged a strategic nuclear engineering alliance poised to reshape Central Asia’s atomic energy landscape. On June 11, 2025, Uzbekistan’s atomic energy agency Uzatom and Paris-based engineering powerhouse Assystem signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture in Tashkent — a decisive move signaling serious momentum in the region’s acceleration toward nuclear power generation. The partnership brings together a local champion eager to develop atomic capacity with a globally recognized engineering force determined to execute complex infrastructure at scale.
International expertise meets regional ambition
Assystem arrives with formidable credentials. Ranking as the world’s third-largest independent nuclear engineering firm, the Paris-headquartered company participates in virtually every major international nuclear project, working across diverse reactor technologies from traditional pressurized water reactors to next-generation modular systems. Beyond pure engineering services, the firm delivers comprehensive solutions spanning design, construction supervision, system commissioning, digital transformation, and risk management across the project lifecycle.
The joint venture will shoulder responsibility for technical oversight of Uzbekistan’s nuclear power station development, from initial project conception through final commissioning. Specifically, it will assist in selecting and integrating technological solutions adapted to local conditions while providing ongoing support for the country’s expanding civilian nuclear program.
Timing proves critical. Uzbekistan is simultaneously advancing plans for an integrated nuclear station comprising both small modular reactors and conventional large-capacity units in Jizzakh Region. This dual-track approach demands seamless coordination across different reactor technologies — precisely where an experienced intermediary adds substantial value. The joint venture becomes the connective tissue translating international best practices into locally viable implementation strategies.
Building enduring regional capability
What distinguishes this venture from conventional service outsourcing is its capacity to cultivate indigenous nuclear engineering expertise. By establishing a permanent engineering office in Tashkent, Uzbekistan gains immediate access to world-class technical resources while simultaneously building long-term domestic capabilities. The partnership could evolve into a regional center of competence supporting nuclear projects across Central Asia — a significant prospect for neighboring nations exploring atomic energy options.
This collaboration represents the culmination of discussions initiated in 2019, when the organizations first explored joint possibilities. In June 2025, senior officials including Uzatom head Azim Akhmedhajayev and Assystem’s senior vice president for international affairs met in Tashkent to formalize the partnership framework and discuss expanded cooperation across energy technology and nuclear safety standards.
Uzbekistan has paralleled this French partnership with parallel Russian cooperation on reactor supply and technology transfer, while simultaneously engaging Hungarian suppliers for cooling systems and French firm Orano for uranium resource development. This multi-partner strategy reflects strategic pragmatism — accessing optimal technical solutions rather than depending on single-source relationships.
Implications for international business
For international companies operating in construction, engineering, systems integration, industrial equipment supply, project management, and related sectors, this development unlocks meaningful opportunity. Uzbekistan’s nuclear expansion creates demand cascading far beyond the atomic sector itself — from specialized construction services and industrial infrastructure to safety systems, control room design and operations management, materials sourcing, logistics networks, and ancillary industrial development.
The establishment of a permanent joint venture engineering office in Tashkent signals serious, long-term commitment rather than episodic project engagement. For foreign enterprises eyeing Central Asia’s infrastructure boom, it demonstrates that major international players view the region as worthy of structural investment. Assystem’s presence as an intermediary could facilitate valuable connections for specialized suppliers and service providers seeking reliable entry points into emerging Central Asian markets where regulatory standards increasingly align with international norms.
The broader significance extends to Uzbekistan’s investment climate and macroeconomic trajectory. Reliable nuclear power generation addresses persistent energy constraints that have historically limited industrial capacity expansion, potentially unlocking new manufacturing zones and enhanced competitiveness for energy-intensive sectors including furniture and interior design production, ceramics, textiles, and light manufacturing — industries increasingly relevant to regional trade dynamics and supply chain diversification.
