Ukraine's Energoatom, Holtec International agree to build nuclear power units

MOSCOW. April 24 (Interfax) - Ukraine's Energoatom President Petr Kotin and U.S. Holtec International President and CEO Kris Singh on April 21 signed an agreement on cooperation in deploying small modular reactors (SMRs), which provides for the construction of up to 20 SMR-160 reactors, with implementation of the first pilot project and reaching minimum regulated reactor capacity and connection to the grid by March 2029.

Ukrainian media reported last Saturday, citing Energoatom's website, that Kotin signed an agreement in Kiev and Singh signed it in Camden, New Jersey, U.S. Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko and Holtec International's Vice President of Ukraine Operations Riaz Awan also attended the ceremony.

"The construction of the SMRs in Ukraine will not only contribute to bolstering the national energy security, but will also make it possible to replace damaged thermal power capacity and achieve decarbonization goals. Ukraine has a significant human resource potential for developing advanced nuclear technologies and will make every effort, in particular, in cooperation with U.S. partners. The SMR is a powerful technology which will also allow us to decentralize power generation," Galushchenko said.

Energoatom's president said the agreement with Holtec International "is based on 20 years of successful cooperation between the companies." "It will enable the introduction of promising, safe, clean, reliable and efficient small modular reactor technologies and make Ukraine the world's leading country in clean energy," Kotin said.

The SMR-160 is a 160MW pressurized light-water reactor that uses low-enriched uranium as fuel and is flexible to produce technological heat for industrial applications and hydrogen production.

Energoatom is an operator of all operating nuclear power plants in Ukraine.