Ukraine plans to boost electricity export, import capacity with EU to 10 GW by 2050

MOSCOW. April 25 (Interfax) - Ukraine plans to gradually expand its throughput capacity with European Union countries for the export and import of electricity, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko told reporters.

"At first, there will be a little more than 2GW. We plan to increase throughput capacity to 6 GW in 2032, and to 10 GW in 2050," Ukrainian media quoted Galushchenko as saying.

Recent studies, including an analysis of the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E), forecast a certain electricity shortage in parts of the EU in 2030-2050, he said.

"Our plan - and it is quite feasible - is to become an energy hub for Europe. Apart from the construction of generation facilities, it also requires capacity to enable us to physically ship this electricity," the minister said.

Ukraine is moving toward giving up coal during electricity production, and a future energy mix in the country - 50% of nuclear generation and 50% of all types of renewable sources, he said.

Ukraine also plans to build three new nuclear power plant units using Westinghouse's AP1000 technology by 2032, Galushchenko said.

"After that, we plan more - up to nine, or maybe even more will have to be built as old power units will be taken out of operation. Two VVER-440 units at the Rovno NPP will be replaced first of all," he said.

The minister also emphasized Ukraine's vast potential with regard to the construction of small modular reactors (SMRs).

"If there was the industrial production of SMRs already today, I think that it would be the best solution for us as a state that has nuclear generation capacity and nuclear power specialists," he said in conclusion.