The completion of reactors for the third and fourth power units of the Khmelnytskyy nuclear power plant will cost Ukraine about UAH 160 billion. This figure was announced by the Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Halushchenko in an interview with LB live.
The exact cost, according to the minister, is currently unknown, as the previous estimate is dated 2018, and due to the difference in the dollar exchange rate, it will be higher.
"Today, the feasibility study is being recalculated by KIEP (Kyiv Research and Design Institute Energoproekt), which did the feasibility study in 2018. They promise to do it in about three months, but according to their preliminary estimates, it is about UAH 160 billion," Halushchenko said.
According to the minister, the Verkhovna Rada passed the draft law on the purchase of reactors before determining the real cost of the project because the permit issued by the Bulgarian parliament for the purchase/sale transaction expires in March. Bulgarian MPs do not plan to extend it.
"Unfortunately, today the configuration of forces in the parliament [of Bulgaria], and we have confirmation of this, suggests that they [Bulgarian MPs] will not extend this period. Moreover, I want to tell you that after the adoption of the law [by the Verkhovna Rada], the pro-Russian part of the Bulgarian parliament registered a law to cancel the permission to transfer these two reactors to Ukraine," Halushchenko said.
He added that the Verkhovna Rada had only given permission to buy the reactors from Bulgaria, and the adopted bill states that the government must submit a new feasibility study within six months, finalise and adopt a law on a construction permit.
- On 11 February, the Verkhovna Rada authorised the purchase of two nuclear reactors from Bulgaria. Opponents of this decision pointed to its inappropriateness during the war and to the country of origin of the equipment, Russia.
- The Energy Ministry argues that the new nuclear units are needed immediately due to the destruction caused by Russia.
- Currently, the readiness of the third unit of Khmelnytskyy NPP is up to 80%, and the fourth unit is up to 30%. Their completion has been frozen for several decades. If the plant is completed, it will become the most powerful in Europe.