TASHKENT, June 5 (Xinhua) -- A ceremony marking the start of construction of the first nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan was held in the country's Jizzakh region overnight Thursday, according to the Uzbek presidential press service.

This photo taken on Sept. 13, 2023 shows the city view of Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

The ceremony was conducted via video link, connecting the construction site in central Uzbekistan with Russia's St. Petersburg, where Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin jointly gave the order to begin construction of the plant's first power unit.

Mirziyoyev noted that once the plant reaches its full design capacity, it will make a significant contribution to the country's electricity generation.

The construction of the plant and the preparation for its operation are being carried out in line with International Atomic Energy Agency standards, the presidential press service said.

Azim Akhmedkhadjaev, head of Uzbekistan's nuclear energy development agency Uzatom, revealed that the base cost of the project is estimated at 9.5 billion U.S. dollars.