First nuclear reactor using American AP1000 technology to be built at Khmelnytskyi NPP
In Ukraine, a nuclear reactor will be built at the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant: it will be the first to use American AP1000 technology.
Rubryka writes about this, referring to the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine.
According to reports, the day before, the president of Energoatom, Petro Kotin, and the chief executive officer of the Westinghouse Electric company, Patrick Fragman, signed an agreement on the purchase of equipment for power unit No. 5 of the Khmelnytskyi NPP, which will be built according to the American AP1000 technology.
Petro Kotin, President of Energoatom State Enterprise, and Chief Executive Officer of Westinghouse Electric Company, Patrick Fragman, signed an agreement on purchasing equipment for power unit No. 5 of the Khmelnytskyi NPP. Photo: Ministry of Energy
Today, there are no such reactors not only in Ukraine but also in Europe.
"This is one of the most advanced technologies in nuclear energy, which makes it possible to maintain the safety systems of nuclear plants even in the event of blackouts and the absence of diesel generators or other power systems," noted energy minister Herman Halushchenko.
The official added that nuclear energy "was, is, and will be a key generation in Ukraine."
The actual capacity of AP1000 units is 1100 MW, while the most powerful nuclear units in Ukraine have 1000 MW.
The construction of relevant facilities will begin immediately after the Ukrainian parliament adopts the necessary law, Kotin said.
"Now, five AP1000 units are in operation in the world, in particular in the USA and China. Five more are almost ready for launch. Poland and Bulgaria are interested in constructing such reactors, as are several other countries," the president of Westinghouse emphasized.
We will remind that on November 22, 2021, Energoatom and Westinghouse signed two cooperation agreements for the purpose of implementing a pilot project for the construction of AR1000 power units at the site of the Khmelnytskyi NPP.
On January 20, 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposals of the Ministry of Energy regarding the development of a feasibility study for the construction of a nuclear installation using AP1000.
It should be noted that nine power units using AR1000 technology are planned to be built in Ukraine. The first two of them will be built on the site of the Khmelnytskyi NPP.
Rubryka analyzed which industries will start production in the near future, whether it is safe for the Ukrainian environment, and what the public should do to protect themselves from the harmful influence of enterprises. Read in our material: Ukrainian nuclear fuel: what are the plans, and is the production safe?
In addition, the American company Holtec International will install up to 20 nuclear power units with small modular SMR-160 reactors in Ukraine.
