New power units at the Khmelnytsky NPP: Russia will displace from the market with the help of Russian equipment

In the summer of 2024, Ukraine plans to start the construction of four new atomic reactors at the Khmelnytsky NPP. The cost of one is from $ 5 billion. Two blocks will be based on the equipment of Russian production, while others should be built by American technology. Focus asked experts about the great construction of the KhNPP and that it would give Ukraine during the war. At the Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant, the construction of units No. 5 and 6.

After their development, the Khmelnytsky NPP will become the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. President of the National Atomic energy generating company "Energoatom" Petro Kotin told this during the opening ceremony. According to him, in parallel with the beginning of the construction of the fifth and sixth units, the third and fourth on the equipment of Russian production, which Ukraine wants to import from Bulgaria, will be completed.

"The power we plan to build at Khmelnitsky NPPs will allow Ukraine to make the largest restoration since the Second World War. These are the technologies that are displaced by Russians from the European Atomic Energy Market, and this is a great geopolitical project of the common interest of the United States and Ukraine," - said Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko during the establishment of the first Cuba of the concrete of the Bloc # 5 of the Khmelnytsky NPP.

One nuclear power unit will cost from $ 5 billion, its construction is calculated for 5 years. In Ukraine, everything will depend on the course of hostilities. At the same time, as experts say, experience shows that both terms and estimates of such construction are much stretched. "$ 5 billion is the minimum cost. On the example of a LIFT (nuclear power station in the United States, Georgia - Ed. ), NPP Olkillooto (Station in Western Finland - Ed.

) ", - in the focus notes an independent nuclear and security expert, the former member of the State Nuclear Regulation Board Olga Kosharna. Meanwhile, the construction of units No. 5 and 6 (KhPP-5 and KhPP-6-Ed. ) Already began. It will be carried out using American technology AR1000 Westinghouse. As they say in NAEK "Energoatom", the KhEP-5 will become the first such in Ukraine. AP1000 is a project of a nuclear power plant developed and implemented by American Westinghouse Electric Company.

The station is a water-water nuclear reactor with improved use of passive safety and many innovations aimed at reducing capital costs. A special feature of the AR1000 is the construction of very compact and efficient power units, which makes it possible to maneuver, that is, the ability to change power. According to the Minister of Energy Herman Galushchenko, in war, this is important for Ukraine.

"Today the enemy beats and destroys the balancing capacity of Ukrainian energy, so building blocks with the possibility of maneuvering is very important for us. And this is our answer to terrorists, they will never deprive us of light, and new technologies will allow us to withstand," Galushchenko said . Six AP1000 are currently in operation or are being built. For the most part, in China, focus wondered how popular the AP1000 technology is in the world.

It turned out that six AP1000 are in operation or under construction. Four are located on two sites in China (two at the Sanmen nuclear power plant and two at the Hayan nuclear power plant), and two of them are built at the Fairytale Electrical Station in the United States. However, as the expert of the Institute for Energy Research, Yuriy Korolchuk, a project, which was implemented in China, was refined by various companies. Also, he said, it is not yet known that they are selling Ukraine.

"AP1000 was built in China. But later there were many problems. Now they periodically repair it. So I cannot say that we want to sell - whether the so -called" pre -Chinese version ", or any other - newer and more modern. In The principle of them (Westinghouse Electric Company - Ed. ) Can not have it, because they did not deal with it. It can be put into operation? There is also a question to Westinghouse itself.

It should be noted that it is a private company with 100% Canadian capital and belongs to the Brookfield investment holding Mark Karney and the world's largest Uranium Uranium production concern. Therefore, the US government does not control its activities and cannot guarantee its safety and accountability. "Westinghouse has developed AP1000 technology when it was a whole company. Then it was actually bankrupt and was forced to divide into several businesses.

The project producing fuel for us is a completely different part than the construction of a nuclear power plant. This company is a so -called showcase today," - said Yuri Korolchuk. The Cabinet of Ministers has already approved the bill, which provides for the decision on the placement, projection and construction of power units # 3 and # 4 at the Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant, he also added that he has doubts about the capacity of the company for the construction of blocks for KhNPP.

"They will not be able to do it. They just have no people for that. There are plants for fuel production, yes. But that's all. More. " Nothing, "he added. At the same time, Westinghouse Director Patrick Flagman states that the project will create many jobs - during construction, operation, repair and maintenance. "By building these blocks, you will receive net energy available at the price.

Many jobs will be created thanks to the project - during construction, operation, repair and maintenance," Patrick Flagman said during the opening ceremony. The production of fuel in Ukraine by AP1000 technology and the line currently created will be another source of supply of resources for Ukrainian nuclear stations, that is, we will receive "our Ukrainian fuel", - says Petro Kotin, the head of the board of JSC "NNECE" So it allows you to displace Russia from the market.

However, the development of other power units # 3 and 4 for the "advanced project", according to experts, makes Russia closer. It is about participating in the development of KhNPP equipment from Bulgaria, namely two reactors who want to import for 600 million euros. This was officially reported during the visit of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to Sofia.

The Bulgarian Parliament made a decision to sell two nuclear rectors and part of the unfinished local nuclear power plant "Belen" before arrival.

Ukraine will buy the main equipment in Bulgaria, which is on the operating site, the Cabinet of Ministers has already approved a bill, which provides for a decision on the placement, projection and construction of power units # 3 and # 4 at the Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant, which was reported by the government in early April 2024 In the Verkhovna Rada Taras Melnychuk. According to Yuriy Korolchuk, Ukraine will buy the main equipment in Bulgaria, which is on the operating site.

"Of course, the reactor, but there are so many other, related equipment, without which NPPs will not work," Korolchuk explained. Expert Olga Kosharna agrees with him. "The statements that we will build the KhEP-3, KhEP-4 on structures that are 40 years old and that these building structures are suitable, considering that new power units are now being built with a life of 60-80 years, doubtful. If they Already left illegal for 40 years, there are no doubts about the care of their quality.

And without this it is impossible to operate. Reactors from Bulgaria are equipped with Russian production equipment that on March 22, in an interview with Reuters, the director of "National Atomic Energy Generaling Company" Energoatom "Petro Kotin was already stated that reactors from Bulgaria," equipped with Russian production equipment "must And the fourth power units of the KhNPP, the construction of which has been ongoing for a long time, but has not yet stopped and is not completed.

Then they terminated the contract. The Bulgarians paid them 600 million euros of compensation. And now they want to sell, in fact, to compensate for their losses. But this reactor was made clearly under a specific project. Just sell equipment on the principle: "Let's put and work" is a misconception. First of all, we need to see the specification - what they sell. I'm afraid, we will not see it. It is clear that everything is missing there.

It will be worse that most of the Russians will have to order from intermediaries, because it will no longer be possible to buy somewhere separately. But we do not want to deal with the Russian Federation. This is a problem that crosses all the best intentions, "-says Yuriy Korolchuk. Yes, the role of NPPs in the power system is key. According to the results of 2023, Ukrainian NPPs generated 52. 4 billion kWh, and the plan for this year-53. 6 billion kWh this year · H.

I think it is one of the options for trying to receive electricity in large quantities, conditional, cheap. This is a good option, you need to do it. We have no alternatives to the other than to replace. Solar generation, wind generation? . . You can get them, but there will be a key question: who will provide basic electricity production when the winds do not blow and the sun does not shine? " - says Yuri Korolchuk. The cheap nuclear electricity allows to keep tariffs for the population.

However, is there any money from a state that is fighting for such a large construction? We have difficulty in December 2023. What saved us? Import and warm winter. We are now damaged by Dniproges, DTEK spoke about damage to 80% of objects, some of which are not recoverable, Centrenergo reported the destruction of 100% of the generation. The minister himself reported the loss of 7 GW, which was 40-45% of what was last year. So, as we will pass the next winter period, it is unknown.

Especially, given the situations such as in Kharkiv, the destruction of the Zmiiv TPP, Trypillian TPP. It is now about survival. Even if you build, at least 10 years it will all work, "-says Olga Kosharna. After the latest missile attacks and shelling we lost 40-45% of the generation. Ukraine was difficult December 2023. Import and warm winter" I do not see It is neither in Bulgarians nor Americans today. Because in war, we are not able to bring it all to completion. We just won't have enough money.