Nuclear engineer Westinghouse has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ukrainian utility Energoatom to build four nuclear reactors at a cost of up to $30bn.
Signed last week at the Department of Energy in Washington, the ceremony was witnessed by Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of the Ukraine, and Jennifer Granholm, the US energy secretary.
The deal will bring Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor to new nuclear plants. Petro Kotin, acting president of Energoatom, commented: “AP1000 technology is a proven gen III-plus reactor design of around 1.1GW with passive safety systems and unique features such as standardisation that will reduce construction time and cost. This will allow Energoatom to ensure the highest level of safety, reliable nuclear generation, innovation and care for the environment.”
The first AP1000 reactor was installed at Sanmen nuclear plant in China in 2018. Westinghouse noted in a press statement that four AP1000 units were setting operational performance records in China, and two AP1000 units were nearing completion at the Vogtle site in the US.
The technology has also been selected for a six-unit project in India and is under consideration by several countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Asia.
The Canadian company beat a rival bid from Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power for the “historic agreement”.
Westinghouse has had a long relationship with the Ukraine’s nuclear industry, and presently supplies fuel to six of the country’s 15 reactors.
Image: The deal was signed by Patrick Fragman, Westinghouse’s chief executive, and Petro Kotin, acting president of Energoatom, and observed by President Zelensky (Westinghouse)
