Energy company Energoatom has started a project to build energy blocks No. 5 and No. 6 using the Westinghouse AR1000 technology at the Khmelnitsky NPP. Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Galushchenko, US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, Energoatom CEO Petro Kotin, and Westinghouse Electric Company Executive Director Patrick Fragman took part in the ceremony of laying the first cube of concrete for block No. 5 at the Khmelnitsky NPP.
It is noted that block No. 5 of the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant will be the first in Ukraine to be built using American AR1000 technology. The feature of this technology is the ability to maneuver the blocks, which is especially useful in current conditions when Russian-backed forces are targeting the balancing generating capacities of Ukrainian energy.
US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink emphasized that amid constant shelling of critical infrastructure, Ukraine needs more energy capacities, with a primary focus on nuclear energy, as it generates over 50% of the country's electricity.
"This issue is especially acute against the backdrop of the illegal capture of the Zaporizhia NPP by invaders, and therefore Ukraine currently needs additional energy blocks. I welcome the efforts and desire of the government of Ukraine, as well as the Ministry of Energy and Energoatom, towards the development of nuclear energy. These blocks at the Khmelnitsky NPP will be the first of nine planned to be built in Ukraine in cooperation with Westinghouse using AR1000 technology," Bridget Brink said.
In the future, the Khmelnitsky NPP will become the most powerful in Europe. Currently, this title belongs to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhia NPP. However, with the construction of KhNPP-5, KhNPP-6, and the commissioning of two new blocks No. 3 and No. 4 here, the capacity of the KhNPP will exceed that of the Zaporizhia NPP. This was stated by Energoatom CEO Petro Kotin.
President and CEO of Westinghouse Electric Company Patrick Fragman talked about the advantages of AR1000 reactors and noted that his company has already launched 6 such blocks worldwide, capable of successful operation for 60 to 100 years. He added that this project "will create many jobs during construction, operation, repairs, and maintenance."
Furthermore, according to Patrick Fragman, national security depends on energy security.
"Currently, all Ukrainian energy blocks have eliminated dependence on the Russian Federation and can operate on American fuel," noted Westinghouse Electric Company's Executive Director.
Source: Energoatom
Comments (0)
There are no comments for now