Russia and the Ukraine have agreed to cooperate in the construction of the third and fourth reactors at Khmelnitsky NPP.
Director general of Russia’s state corporation Rosatom, Sergei Kiriyenko, and the Ukrainian fuel and energy minister Yuriy Boyko signed a cooperation agreement in Kiev yesterday, Wednesday 9 June.
The works will cost $5-6 billion, according to Rosatom. Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin has previously said that the money to continue construction of the Khmelnitsky NPP would be provided by Russia.
In October 2008, Atomstroyexport won an international tender to construct two AES-92 plants with V-392B reactors at Khmelnitsky, similar to the two VVERs already operating on the site.
"This is an important first step," Kiriyenko said, adding that cooperation in the project could lead to further collaboration in Ukraine and to joint projects overseas.
Boyko also said that he believes this project is very important and would be beneficial for both countries.
The construction of Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant began in 1981. The first unit was commissioned in 1987, and the second in 2004. Khmelnitsky is one of Ukraine’s 15 operating reactors, which in 2009 accounted for 49% (77.9TWh) of the country’s total electricity production.
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