Ukrainian govt approves bill on building Khmelnitsky NPP Units No. 3-4

MOSCOW. April 2 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian government has approved a bill on location, design and construction of Power Units No. 3 and No. 4 of the Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), Ukrainian media reported, citing the government's envoy to the parliament Taras Melnichuk.

The relevant decision was made at a government meeting on Tuesday, it said.

The project proposes determining the location of Khmelnitsky NPP Power Units No. 3-4, the number of reactors, their type and general characteristics, the purpose of power units for industrial production of electricity and heat, common requirements for the design and construction of these power units, the rate of levy on socioeconomic compensation of the risk for residents living in the Khmelnitsky NPP surveillance zone, during the construction of Power Units No. 3-4.

Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko earlier said that in order to compensate for the loss of energy capacity due to the crisis, Ukraine plans to launch construction of new units at the Khmelnitsky NPP in 2024. These are two Soviet-designed VVER-1000 Units No. 3-4, as well as two AP-1000 Units designed by the U.S.-based company Westinghouse. Ukraine will be the first country in Europe to build nuclear power units of this type.

Two nuclear power units will increase annual electricity production by 16,226 million kWh and its supply by 15,415 million kWh, the Energy Ministry said on social media. The project will be implemented solely at the expense of NAEC Energoatom with drawing credit facilities, without using state budget funds, the ministry said.