The construction of the third reactor of the Khmelnytskyy nuclear power plant, which is currently 80% ready, can be completed in three years, and the fourth reactor (30% ready) in four years. The Minister of Energy of Ukraine, Herman Halushchenko, said this in an interview with LB live, referring to the "schedule worked out by the relevant experts".
According to the minister, KhNPP currently has a large amount of equipment that was purchased at the beginning of construction, it is "in perfect condition because it was maintained properly".
Halushchenko also dismissed the problems with the certification of the completed units allegedly due to the use of Russian technology, stressing that all reactors in operation in Ukraine have the same technology. The completed ones will be inspected by the IAEA.
"They [the IAEA] are very interested in us implementing this project. They even offered a so-called advisory and technical mission to complete these units. And there are even parameters for how this mission should look organisationally," Halushchenko said.
According to the minister, there should be no problems with spare parts - they will not need to be purchased from Russia (as the country of origin), because "a large number of them are replaced by domestic production and imported from Europe.
"Today, we are already operating Soviet reactors without a supply chain from Russia," reminded Herman Halushchenko.
- On 11 February 2025, the Verkhovna Rada authorised the purchase of two nuclear reactors from Bulgaria.
- According to preliminary estimates, the completion of the reactors for KhNPP will cost the budget UAH 160 billion.
- After the feasibility study is approved, the parliament will have to give separate permission for the completion of the units, the construction of which was frozen in the 1990s.
- Opponents of the purchase of the units point to the inexpediency of such a step during the war, given the cost and the country of manufacture of the equipment - Russia.