Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Nuclear Country Notes

Ukraine

At end-2005 there were 15 nuclear reactors (with a total net generating capacity of 13 107 MWe) in service at four sites: they had come into operation between 1980 and 1995. Nuclear plants accounted for 48.5% of Ukraine's power output in 2005.

Four 925 MWe RBMK reactors were installed at Chernobyl between 1977 and 1983. In April 1986 the last unit to be completed, Chernobyl-4, was destroyed in the world's worst nuclear accident. Chernobyl-2 was closed down in 1991, Chernobyl-1 in 1996 and Chernobyl-3 in December 2000.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development granted a loan to Ukraine to finance the completion in 2004 of two 950 MWe (net) nuclear reactors (Khmelnitski-2 and Rovno-4), to replace the electricity output lost as a result of the shutdown of Chernobyl-3. Two further 950 MWe WWERs (Khmelnitski-3 and -4) are partly built, with grid connection foreseen for 2015-2016.

In June 2005, the president of Energoatom stated that Ukraine planned to build a number of NPPs, with capacities in the 1 000-1 500 MWe range, starting in 2008. Total baseload nuclear capacity is planned to grow to 20 000 MWe (presumably gross, equivalent to 19 000 MWe net) in 2030, with nuclear's share of electricity generation staying in the region of 45%. The Minister of Fuel and Energy was quoted as saying that the first two reactors would be commissioned by 2015 and that four more would follow by 2020.

In mid-2006, Energoatom invited bids to undertake a feasibility study for completing the Khmelnitski-3 and -4 reactors, which in 2005 had received government approval for completion.