In 2024, construction of four more units at Khmelnytsky NPP is planned to start, two of them using the modern American AP1000 technology. This was announced by the Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko on the air of the National Telethon Yedyni Novyny (United News).

The Minister of Energy reminded that the construction of KhNPP Units 3 and 4 had been planned for a long time, and the readiness of Unit 3 was quite high to date.

"We can see this as a mechanism to compensate for the capacities of the occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP. We understand that we will definitely return this plant, it is a matter of time. The other question is in what condition we will return it and whether we will manage to put it into operation immediately," he pointed out.

German Galushchenko said that the Ukrainian side was working closely with the US-based Westinghouse on two projects: the construction of VVER-1000 units 3 and 4, as well as the construction of two more AP1000 reactors.

He emphasised that AP1000 is a technology that had never been used in Ukraine or Europe before. This is an American type of reactor and a very powerful technology that, in particular, provides for new approaches to safety, for example, if in the event of a power outage the reactor is forced to switch to backup power and the diesel generator is also damaged, then even in this case, the AP1000 can operate for 72 hours without any risk of accidents.

According to German Galushchenko, the construction of new reactors will take time, and KhNPP Unit 3 could be commissioned as soon as possible, in about 2.5 years.

"And with the power that six reactors at Khmelnytskyi NPP will be producing, it will be the largest in Europe and even more efficient than Zaporizhzhia NPP," the Minister stressed.