Energoatom, Westinghouse sign deal on construction of two nuclear units

Top managers of state nuclear power producer
Energoatom and equipment producer Westinghouse signed an agreement related to
the construction of nuclear power units in Ukraine, Energoatom reported on Nov.
22. “This agreement initiates the engineering and procurement of long-lead
items for the first Westinghouse AP1000 unit at the Khmelnytskyi site,” the
American company specified. Petro Kotin, top manager of Energoatom, also
reported that the cooperation includes the construction of two nuclear units at
the Khmelnytskyi NPP (where two units have been constructed and two more had
been planned). Kotin expects that US Eximbank will finance the construction.
According to an Energoatom presentation, the expected cost of one AP1000 power
unit is about USD 5 bln, Interfax-Ukraine reported.

Recall, the agreement “to bring AP1000 technology
nuclear reactors to Ukraine” was signed between Energoatom and
Westinghouse in late August as a part of
president Zelensky’s visit to meet Joe Biden. 

Alexander Paraschiy: As the current 15 nuclear units in Ukraine are aging, the need to
gradually replace them is becoming a question connected to Ukraine’s energy
security. Therefore, active steps towards the construction of new power units
are important and welcomed. Financial backing from an American bank is
essential for the success of such a project, so news on the possible
involvement of US Eximbank is encouraging.