Ukraine plans to resume building two power units of Khmelnytsky NPP in 2021 - prime minister

KYIV. Oct 20 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Ukraine plans in 2021 to resume the construction of the third and fourth power units of Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant (NPP), Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said during an hour of questions to the government in parliament.

"I think we will probably be able to start the completion of the two blocks you are talking about from 2021. This is our plan, we are seriously and systematically working on it and will do everything to make nuclear power safe and capacities enough not only to provide ourselves with power but also export electricity, which will make the economy of our country more stable and developed," he said.

Groysman noted the intention to realize the project of the Ukraine-EU energy bridge worth EUR243.5 million, which provides for the delivery of power from power unit No. 2 of Khmelnytsky NPP to the EU energy system. The funds received from the export of electricity from this unit are to be used to finance the construction of power units Nos.3 and 4 at Khmelnytsky NPP.

As reported, the Energy Strategy of Ukraine until 2035 stipulates that nuclear power plants must provide 50% of the country's electricity generation by 2035, the share of renewable sources should rise to 12.8%, the large hydropower sector to 6.7%. The remaining volumes will be produced by thermal power plants.