Ukraine is close to making a decision regarding the two new reactors at the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant. One of the options under consideration is utilizing equipment originally ordered by Bulgaria for its Belene project. Following a meeting with Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the project’s implementation would be accelerated. This initiative aims to boost energy production after the extensive damage inflicted on facilities by Russian missile strikes.
After the war began and relations with Rosatom deteriorated, Bulgaria proposed selling Ukraine the two reactors initially meant for the Belene nuclear power plant (NPP). Unable to proceed with the reactors due to the absence of Russian involvement, Bulgaria is offering the equipment to Ukraine, which has the capacity to complete the reactors. The plan is to use the equipment to finish the third and fourth units at the Khmelnytskyi plant. Ukraine’s Energoatom also has a separate agreement with Westinghouse to build two additional units at the same site using their technology.
In late 2023, former Bulgarian Energy Minister Rumen Radev confirmed Ukraine’s continued interest in acquiring the Belene reactors. He stated that Ukraine was ready to purchase the equipment at Bulgaria’s proposed price, although he mentioned that this price would exceed the initial estimate of around 600 million euros. Speculation suggests that the final price Ukraine will pay could be close to 1 billion euros.
