A new atom for Ukraine: When and at whose expense will new nuclear power plant units be built and why is this important?

Minister of Energy German Galushchenko said that plans for 2024 include the construction of large power units for nuclear power plants. This was discussed during the telethon. These projects are implemented within the framework of cooperation with Western countries, especially the USA.

According to him, Ukraine plans to build only 9 new power units for nuclear power plants using American AP1000 technology.

I asked what is needed for the construction of new nuclear power plant units in Ukraine and how much it will cost Focus from experts.

Billions of dollars of investment: Where will the money for new nuclear power plant units come from?

According to Vladimir Omelchenko, director of energy programs at the Razumkov Center, for the construction of nuclear power plant units on the territory of Ukraine it is necessary to have a number of permits and regulatory documents approved at the legislative level: the Council of Ministers.

“Secondly, you need to have the money, technology and talent available to build these units. If you build a new block from scratch, this is not a cheap pleasure. One block costs more than 5 billion euros. If NAEC Energoatom wants to build on the basis of unfinished units already existing at the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant… It is difficult for me to say what Energoatom is counting on. Moreover, not all regulatory documents have been approved there, no decisions have been made in terms of security. And the Energoatom company itself has big financial problems. For this reason, For me it is a big mystery why they want to build these blocks and who will provide them with the money.“, Omelchenko remarked.

The expert also reminded that NNEGC Energoatom is a company with a low level of liquidity and significant financial instability (i.e. large debts). Focus).

“The company really has serious financial problems. It cannot even perform its functions as a provider with special responsibilities to compensate for the price difference for home consumers. I do not quite understand where it will get such money, “added the expert.

Nuclear energy expert Olga Kosharnaya, director of energy programs at the Razumkov Center, agrees.

“You need to go through certain procedures and most importantly find investment for construction. Because nuclear power plants require large capital investments during the construction phase. . This is a problem, considering that in its best times NAEC Energoatom produced up to 90 billion kWh per year, now it is 52 billion kWh. And there are still responsibilities. The company has no available funds. Additionally, Energoatom has debts to Ukrenergo and various market organizations“, he added in a comment Focus.

Referring to the annual forecast of NPC Ukrenergo, the expert noted that a new power unit is not planned for it, so Kosharna thinks: When NNEGC Energoatom writes about large power units and reactors, it only “advertises its own whims”.

Ukrenergo models the energy system annually using computer codes, based on the state of the economy and electricity consumption forecasts for the next 10 years. Actually, I saw the latest report from Ukrenergo and there are no new power units there,” Kosharna said.

Regarding large nuclear power plant units, in his opinion, there is an inconsistency in Minister Galushchenko’s words. “On the one hand, the Minister talks about “decentralizing the generation” and on the other hand, he talks about big blocks. “If a 1 thousand MW block is being built, this is not decentralization,” he said.

Former long-term construction: is it possible to complete power units No. 3 and 4 at Khmelnitsky NPP?

Experts note that the general condition of the construction part of the unfinished KhNPP units during the cessation of work at power unit No. 3 was 75%, and at power unit No. 4 it was 28%.

According to nuclear energy expert Olga Kosharna, in 2012, at a board meeting of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate, it was determined that the remains of the structures of power units No. 3 and 4 at the Khmelnitsky NPP could not be used.

“It is interesting who prepared this feasibility study and how Energoatom put the cart before the horse, already in December 2023 a proposal was made for the implementation of engineering and geological studies of the site for KhNPP-5,6 units. First data on the feasibility study on reactor and turbine islands are planned for 2024 only“, Kosharnaya remarked.

He explained that Energoatom was preparing an inappropriate bill, the text of which was “epic in its arrogance”, in the autumn of 2023 in order to create a legal basis for the purchase of equipment without a feasibility study.

“As a rule, the construction customer determined at the approval stage of the feasibility study is given the right to buy anything, at any price, from anyone! And all this is before deciding on construction. “A nuclear facility of national importance recognized by Ukrainian law and approval of project facilities adopted by order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine,” he said.

About AP1000 technology and the long journey of project approvals

AP1000 is a nuclear power plant design developed and implemented by Westinghouse Electric Company. The facility is a pressurized water nuclear reactor with improved use of passive safety features and many innovations aimed at reducing capital costs and improving its economics. According to Minister Galushchenko, Ukraine plans to build a total of 9 new power units for nuclear power plants using this technology.

However, Olga Kosharnaya supports the AP1000 technology, considering the impact of this large unit on the power grid.

“This (block) needs to be built from scratch. In addition, there is a complex procedure for developing a feasibility study for a power unit with this particular reactor, in particular with an assessment of the environmental impact. “For example, when you look at the acquisition plans, I do not see a feasibility study there,” he added.

According to the expert, Ukraine has not yet built reactors of this type. As a result, such technologies usually require at least a year of evaluation, comparison and feasibility study. In addition, the project must pass state scrutiny, in particular, expert assessment of fire, sanitary and epidemiological, environmental and, most importantly, nuclear safety.

“Then a package of documents is submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers and it approves. When the feasibility study is approved, consultations with neighboring countries begin. This also takes time. After the consultations, a report is prepared and, in the end – the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopts a law on the placement of a nuclear hazardous facility on the territory of Ukraine “to be done,” explained the expert.

Previously Focus He wrote that possible missile attacks on Ukrainian energy system facilities in cold weather conditions could cause difficulties. Vladimir Kudrytsky, head of Ukrenergo, warned about several periods of cold weather in January, February and March.

Let us remind you that for the first time during a large-scale war, IAEA observers did not enter the reactor halls of the three power units of the Zaporozhye NPP. Nuclear security experts are sounding the alarm that the world may not be aware of new problems and risks.