The issue of Ukraine's energy independence is becoming increasingly important, as russia has been attacking the Ukrainian power system for almost three years. As before, nuclear power plants cover the highest percentage of the country’s electricity needs. In an interview with French International Radio (RFI), Energoatom CEO Petro Kotin spoke about nuclear generation and how Ukraine will move towards energy independence.
– How significant is nuclear generation for the Ukrainian power system, what share does it fill, and what are the current problems in this area?
– On average, nuclear power covers 55-60% of the needs. However, in some hours of the day, the figure reaches 70-75%. It depends, in particular, on the russian shelling. When they damage thermal or hydroelectric generation facilities, there are restrictions, but nuclear generation always works at full power. However, we cannot always transmit it because, for example, the russians damaged a line and a substation of Ukrenergo.
At one end, these lines are connected to a nuclear power plant, and at the other end, to a substation about 100-200 kilometers from the plant. And the ruscists are hitting these substations to actually limit our ability to transmit the electricity that we could produce at nuclear power plants. The nuclear power plants are ready to operate at full power in the fall and winter.
– Speaking of Khmelnytskyi NPP, where two power units are to be completed, what is its current capacity, and what will it be in the future?
– Today, KhNPP has two power units that generate up to 2000 MW. Two more units, if completed, will generate an additional 2,200 MW of power to the grid. At the same time, we have a total installed capacity of 7800 MW, excluding the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP. Therefore, 2200 MW is a very significant increase.
– Is the delay because the draft law “On the Siting, Design, and Construction of Khmelnytskyi NPP Units 3 and 4” has not yet been adopted? Why couldn't they have been completed earlier? Is it because the plant was designed according to Soviet “templates”?
– In terms of technology, it is a Soviet reactor. There are 15 of them in Ukraine. Actually, all projects for these reactors were carried out here in Ukraine. They were built by Ukrainian specialists and Ukrainian companies, including construction companies. Moreover, even if we are talking about reactor equipment and facilities, they were made at a plant in Kramatorsk. At the same time, russia just performed semi-knocked-down assembly of these reactors there. Therefore, you know, there is a lot of speculation about russian technology. They are really Soviet, but in fact, this is a Ukrainian project. And we will have these two units.
– What about the fuel elements that were previously supplied from russia? Did you find alternatives after the start of the full-scale invasion?
– With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, our Company finally terminated all contracts with russia and completely switched to fuel manufactured by Westinghouse. Now, all fresh fuel comes to us from Westinghouse, and the same U.S. fuel will be used for the new units. We are also developing our own line for the production of nuclear fuel assemblies using Westinghouse technology. In this way, we will maintain diversification of supply sources, as fuel will be supplied from different suppliers. We will produce part of it ourselves and buy the rest from Westinghouse.
– Last year, you announced plans to build two more power units in cooperation with Westinghouse. How will they differ from the existing ones? What will be their capacity?
– These will be Generation III+ reactors, the type that went into large-scale manufacturing in 2011. The ones we are currently operating belong to Generation III. The new reactors have undergone significant safety improvements and will be brought up to Generation III+. Therefore, the new generation of reactors is better in terms of safety. Such a unit is built in five years.
– What other new projects do you have besides the Khmelnytskyi NPP completion?
– We have signed a memorandum with Westinghouse on the construction of nine AP1000 power units. Of these, we plan to place one power unit each at the existing nuclear power plant sites and one new site, which we are currently developing. This is the Chyhyryn site. Back in Soviet times, a nuclear power plant construction was started there, but after the Chornobyl Memorandum, this site was closed. The conditions there are very favorable for building a nuclear power plant. The relevant documents are being prepared.
Furthermore, jointly with Holtec, we are actively working on a small modular reactor project. In particular, we are talking about transferring the technology for manufacturing small modular reactor components and components for the Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility to Ukraine. We have such a storage facility built using Holtec technology, which we successfully operate. Our task is to manufacture everything in Ukraine so that our country becomes a hub for European countries that want to build small modular reactors of this type. We have already reached an agreement with Holtec, we have a corresponding agreement, and the process of technology transfer is underway.
– What are small modular reactors? How are they fundamentally different from traditional large ones? What is the difference in technology?
– Because they are smaller, they have a different capacity. This means that such reactors are easier to assemble, and it is easier to organize a high level of safety. In addition, it is modular, meaning that the modules are assembled directly at the manufacturing plant. After that, the structures can be delivered to the plant site, where they can be assembled into a reactor plant very quickly. They can also be used in areas where the power grid is not so well developed, and there are not enough power output lines. That is, they can provide local electricity generation.
– How long are these plans to build the plant? And what will it give Ukraine, apart from having its reactors?
– This is in the five-year horizon. What will it give Ukraine? Ukraine will confirm its status as a country that is one of the leaders in the use of nuclear energy and the peaceful atom. We have 15 power units. No one else in Europe has as many, except for France. And we are second in Europe in terms of electricity generation at nuclear power plants after France. Of course, they are far ahead of us because France has many power units. In different years, they generated from 300 to 500 billion kWh annually. We now generate about 50 billion kWh annually, even without the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. With it, our performance would have reached up to 100 billion kWh annually. Nuclear power plants are our resource. That is what our stability and energy independence are based on. The development of nuclear power will move the entire Ukrainian industry forward. This also applies to such a new area as small modular reactors.
– What does the implementation of new projects depend on now? Is it necessary to vote for a separate draft law as for additional reactors at KhNPP? Can we start implementing them before the parliamentary approval?
– A lot of preparatory work needs to be done. This is resolved by the relevant resolutions or ordinances of the Cabinet of Ministers, which sets us tasks to support the construction of power units 3 and 4, to prepare the site for Khmelnytskyi NPP power units 5 and 6, and to build a plant for the manufacture of small modular reactor components. Under the law, a feasibility study is prepared and submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers for approval. If it is a nuclear facility, all projects are coordinated with the countries bordering Ukraine within the framework of the Espoo Convention.
For example, the completion of KhNPP power units 3 and 4 has been fully agreed upon with Moldova, Poland, Romania, Austria, and Slovakia. Now, they say that the EU does not support something. This is not true. All of Ukraine's neighboring countries, including the European Union, have approved this construction.
