UKRAINIAN NUCLEAR PRIORITIES

WNN - 16 February 2022   - Intensifying work to complete Khmelnitsky unit 3, examining a site for possible construction of a new nuclear power plant and exploring the possibilities of small modular reactors are among priorities for the year ahead, Energoatom has said.

The priorities for 2022 were set out by the company during a visit by Petro Kotin, CEO of Energoatom, to the Zaporozhe nuclear power plant where he was joined by the heads of nuclear power plants and Energoatom trade unions.

Kotin said 2021 has seen a number of positive achievements including Energoatom increasing electricity production by 13% and completion of the construction of the Centralised Spent Fuel Storage Facility (CSFSF) in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

“We have ensured the sustainable passage of the previous and current heating seasons. We set a number of production records, ensuring the highest level of safety during the operation of nuclear facilities,” he said, adding that it had helped the decision to reduce electricity tariffs for 80% of households in the country.

He noted that the recent decision by the European Union to include nuclear power in the Taxonomy showed that nuclear power will be the driving force for decarbonisation.

The company’s international contacts had grown tenfold over the past year, he said, adding: “Over the past year, we adopted and supported at a high state level the decision to build five new power units in Ukraine using the US AP1000 technology. First, we signed a Memorandum, followed by two more agreements with Westinghouse on the construction of two power units at Khmelnitsky NPP.”

The company also set out the plans for the year ahead, saying it was “important to maintain the high rates of … development, complete organisational, legal work and other preparatory activities for the start of construction of two units at the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant.”

Its published list of priorities also include:

• start of operation of the CSFSF and acceptance of used nuclear fuel from three Ukrainian nuclear power plants;

• intensification of works on completion of Khmelnitsky unit 3;

• connection to the grid of the new third hydraulic unit of the Tashlyk hydraulic pumped storage power plant;

• commissioning of spray ponds 3, 4, 5 at the South-Ukrainian nuclear power plant;

• start of works on reconstruction of Voznesenska hydro power plant;

• examination of site for possible construction of a new nuclear power plant;

• setting up of production of separate components for fuel assemblies using Westinghouse technology at the Atomenergomash plant; and

• exploring the possibility of implementing small modular reactor technology with partners from Rolls Royce and NuScale.

-----