On April 21, President of National Nuclear Generating Company Energoatom Petro Kotin and President and CEO of U.S. Holtec International Chris Singh signed an agreement on cooperation in the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs), which provides for the construction of up to 20 SMR-160 reactors, with the implementation the first pilot project and reaching the minimum regulated reactor power and connection to the grid by March 2029.

As reported on the Energoatom website on Saturday, Kotin signed the agreement in Kyiv, and Singh in Camden (New Jersey, the United States). Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Haluschenko and Vice President of Holtec International for operations in Ukraine Riaz Awan also attended the ceremony.

"Construction of SMRs in Ukraine would not only contribute to the strengthening of the energy security of Ukraine, but would also allow replacing thermal power capacities destroyed by russian attacks and gaining de-carbonization goals. Ukraine boasts a significant human potential for development of leading nuclear technologies and will make maximum efforts, in particular in cooperation with the U.S. partners, to oust the russian nuclear industry out of the global market. SMR is a powerful technology which will also allow decentralization of the power generation," Haluschenko said.

According to the President of Energoatom, the agreement with Holtec International "is based on 20-years' experience of successful cooperation between the two companies." "It will allow implementation of promising, safe, clean, reliable and efficient technologies of small modular reactors and establishing Ukraine as a world’s leading country in the area of clean energy," Kotin said.

The document also provides for more profound cooperation between the companies aimed at strengthening of energy security of Ukraine. Moreover, the Agreement will contribute to the overall de-carbonization of the Ukrainian energy sector, strengthening of energy independence of Ukraine, and will launch high-tech production of SMR components on our territory.

"We are grateful to Honorable Minister of Energy Haluschenko and Honorable President of Energoatom who represent the Government of Ukraine for reestablishing the confidence of your nation in our company by selecting our supremely safe SMR-160 reactors and Holtec International as a partner to cater the needs of your state in clean energy…We are eager to help the people of Ukraine in rebuilding the energy infrastructure after the russian aggressors have been ousted of the country," Singh said at the signing ceremony.