Breakthrough: unique Hungarian technology to protect Uzbeks from a nuclear disaster

Before the end of the year, an agreement is expected to be signed on the application of the unique Hungarian “dry cooling” technology in Uzbekistan’s upcoming nuclear power plant, announced Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on Friday in Samarkand.

Unique Hungarian technology to protect Uzbekistan

According to a statement from the ministry, following the UNESCO General Assembly, the minister held bilateral talks with his Azerbaijani, Georgian, and Uzbek counterparts. He described it as a major milestone that Uzbekistan’s new nuclear power plant will very likely use Hungarian dry cooling technology.

“It is good news that by the end of this year, an agreement will be signed ensuring that this unique Hungarian technology will be part of Uzbekistan’s emerging nuclear project,” he said, according to the Hungarian News Agency.

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Uzbekistan currently has no operating nuclear power plants. The new facility, which will employ Hungarian dry cooling technology, will consist of six small modular reactor units built by Rosatom. The Uzbek and Russian presidents signed a cooperation agreement on this last year. According to plans, the new plant will supply a significant proportion of the country’s electricity needs for around 60 years.

Uzbekistan aims for 40% of its electricity production to come from renewable sources by 2030, with several large solar and wind power plants planned for the coming years. In addition, the country is preparing for the construction of a larger nuclear power plant, also to be built by Rosatom.

How does the groundbreaking Hungarian technology work?

The essence of the Hungarian dry cooling technology—critical for nuclear power plant safety—is its ability to passively cool the reactor without an energy supply. This provides a significant advantage for plants such as Zaporizhzhia, which was endangered when attacks disconnected it from the power grid for weeks, forcing reliance on diesel generators for cooling and greatly increasing vulnerability. Power supply was finally restored on 23 October.

The dry cooling technology can prevent reactor overheating and severe accidents without the need for water or electricity. It relies on air for cooling instead of water, making it independent of water resources. This ensures more stable and safer cooling, particularly in emergencies such as power outages or loss of cooling water. Moreover, it enables nuclear plants to be built in water-scarce regions.