Energoatom Considers SMRs for Ukraine

Hartmut Yakob, Vice President of Ukrainian nuclear utility Energoatom on 29 July took part in a meeting of the working group on small modular reactors (SMRs) organised by the US Department of Commerce, which was held online. In his presentation, Yakob noted: “Energoatom continues to study a set of issues related to the prospects and problems of introducing SMRs in Ukraine, taking into account the national energy strategy.” He also announced that Energoatom has already begun to co-operate with a number of American developers of micro modular reactors, and expressed hope for further fruitful work with foreign partners in this direction.

“Energoatom plays a key role in decarbonising the energy sector in Ukraine,” stressed Yakob. He noted that nuclear generation had prevented the emission of 70 million tons of CO 2 into the atmosphere in 2020. He said Energoatom plans to ensure the continuous development of nuclear energy in Ukraine, in particular, by completing the construction of units 3 and 4 of the Khmelnitsky NPP .

In early July, Energoatom Acting President Petr Kotin, speaking at the Eurasian Forum of Green Energy and Clean Technologies, organised by the US Department of Commerce, presented the prospects for the introduction of SMR technology in Ukraine. He noted that the company will carefully consider this technology, since the need for more flexible and manoeuverable NPP capacities is constantly growing.