One significant area of national nuclear power industry development is the introduction of small modular reactor (SMR) technologies, which can supplement our nuclear fleet in the next decade.
SMRs are relatively low-capacity nuclear reactors (up to 400 MW). They are several times smaller than traditional nuclear reactors and consist of separate modules, greatly simplifying their construction or deployment.
NNEGC “Energoatom” is actively involved in this process, has significant experience, human resources, and agreements with international partners that provide access to new technologies and training for Energoatom specialists.
Our longest and most fruitful cooperation in this area is with the U.S. company Holtec. Just last week, jointly with the executives of this company, we discussed in detail the practical steps of our cooperation, particularly the construction of a facility in Ukraine for production of components for Holtec SMR-300 small modular reactors (300 MWe). This project implementation will not only provide Ukraine with the necessary SMR components and technologies but also allow exporting them to European countries.
Together, we have already determined the location of this facility, technical requirements, and manufacturing parameters, as well as the technologies needed to deploy the facility's capacities.
We have also agreed on the Energoatom representative's participation in the deployment of a small modular reactor based on SMR-300 technology at the Palisades nuclear power plant (USA). It concerns the inclusion of our specialists in working groups at the stages of design, construction, testing, and commissioning of this SMR in the USA, which will allow Energoatom to gain knowledge and experience for further implementation of this technology in Ukraine.
Furthermore, we have several other agreements and work with other leading global SMR technology developers.
In particular,
- in June 2024, Energoatom and French EDF signed a cooperation agreement covering the study of NUWARD technology – a small modular reactor from EDF,
- in September 2023, Energoatom and the U.S. Westinghouse signed a memorandum on the possibility of introducing small modular reactors AP-300 in Ukraine,
- in early 2022, NNEGC agreed with Rolls-Royce on cooperation on the possibility of constructing U.K. small modular reactors in Ukraine,
- in September 2021, Energoatom and the US-based NuScale Power signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the possibility of building NuScale reactors in Ukraine.
These agreements and practical work on their realization have already laid a solid foundation for the implementation of SMR projects in Ukraine. Energoatom is the only company in Ukraine, which has specialists with the necessary competencies for the construction and operation of small modular reactors. Our partners understand this, so they see great opportunities for cooperation.
In Ukraine, the law restricts the possession and use of nuclear material. It can only be state-owned. Thus, as a joint-stock company 100% owned by the state, Energoatom understands and assumes full responsibility for the SMR deployment technologies in Ukraine.
Last year, we officially received a list of 18 sites from Ukrenergo where small modular reactors can be deployed to replace outdated or damaged power units at TPPs. The first promising site for this is the site of Trypilska TPP, for which project documentation and relevant calculations are already being prepared.
Therefore, Ukraine is already taking confident steps toward SMR implementation. Energoatom is mastering the relevant technologies and working to create a new nuclear industrial cluster that will strengthen the national economy and energy independence.
CEO of JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom”
Petro Kotin
