In the summer or fall of 2024, Ukraine plans to begin construction of four new nuclear reactors as it seeks to compensate for lost energy capacity.
Construction is planned at Khmelnytskyi NPP
Ukraine plans to build new reactors at the Khmelnytskyi NPP.
This was stated by the Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Galushchenko, Reuters reports.
I think we will start construction in summer — autumn. We need reactor housings, which will have to be imported. We want to immediately build the third and fourth blocks,— said Galushchenko. "We want to compensate for those at the Zaporizhzhia NPP."
At the same time, two blocks will be based on Russian-made equipment, which Ukraine wants to import from Bulgaria. It is about reactors and related equipment.
We are currently negotiating with our Bulgarian partners regarding two reactors that we want to import, — said Galushchenko.
The other two will use Western technologies from the power equipment manufacturer Westinghouse.
According to the minister, the first results of these projects can be obtained in 2.5 years.
Currently, three power plants on the territory controlled by Ukraine produce more than 55% of the country's electricity needs.
What is the condition of the Khmelnytsky NPP?
In February 2023, shelling by the Russian Federation led to the shutdown of one of the units of the Khmelnytsky NPP.
In October 2023, as a result of shelling in the Khmelnytskyi region, household buildings near the Khmelnytskyi NPP were damaged.
In December 2023, the president of "Energoatom" Petro Kotin and the chief executive officer of Westinghouse Electric Company, Patrick Fragman, signed an agreement to purchase power equipment unit No. 5 of the Khmelnytskyi NPP.
The Westinghouse reactor, which is planned to be purchased for a new power unit at the Khmelnytskyi NPP, will cost Ukraine $437.5 million.
A pilot project for the construction of AR1000 power units will be implemented at the site of the Khmelnytsky NPP.
In general, it is planned to build nine power units based on AR1000 technology in Ukraine. This is provided for by decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and memoranda concluded between "Energoat" and Westinghouse Electric Company.
The completion of power units No. 3 and No. 4 is planned at the Khmelnytskyi NPP.
During the many years of conservation of power units No. 3 and No. 4, some objects were exposed to the influence of the environment and weather conditions. A thorough inspection of the condition of structures and modules is underway.
