Ukraine plans to build 20 small modular reactors instead of thermal power units - energy minister

MOSCOW. March 17 (Interfax) - Ukraine is considering building up to 20 small modular reactors (SMRs) to replace damaged thermal power units as part of its "green transition," Energy Minister German Galushchenko said during a visit to a power company on March 16.

"This is the best option for replacing thermal generation. We will advance along the 'green transition' by the SMR technology, this is the best technology," the Ukrainian media quoted his statement.

For his part, Energoatom CEO Pyotr Kotin said that the SMRs are very promising for Ukraine and the nuclear engineers jointly with the Energy Ministry are currently elaborating many programs with various international companies which are developing the technology of small modular reactors.

In particular, Energoatom is currently cooperating in the SMR trend with the U.S.-based Westinghouse, which offers its AP-300 reactor, NuScale and Holtec International, the British Rolls Royce and a couple more companies, with which relevant memoranda have been signed.

"There are a fair number of companies currently working on this topic and coming up with their projects. We are trying to monitor everything that is happening in this area, and we are keeping everything under control, and as soon as we identify the technology with which we could advance, we will proceed to practical implementation," the Energoatom CEO added.

As reported, Energoatom and NuScale signed a memorandum of cooperation to build small modular reactors in Ukraine in September 2021.

In November 2022, United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and Ukrainian Energy Minister Galushchenko announced the launch of a pilot project to introduce the SMRs in Ukraine in partnership with the U.S., Japan and South Korea to produce hydrogen and ammonia. As the Ukrainian minister said at the time, the project could be implemented tentatively within two to three years.