The third unit of the Khmelnytskyi NPP is ready at eighty-five percent, while the fourth unit is at twenty-five percent. Currently, work is ongoing on both units to maintain the structural integrity, with personnel from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant also involved. All of them were forced to evacuate from the occupied territory and are now working here. This is reported by Kontrakty.UA.
This was mentioned in a report by TSN correspondent Yevhenia Khomyts.
The construction of the third and fourth units at the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant began back in Soviet times. However, work was halted in the 1990s. Currently, expanding nuclear capacities, particularly the completion of the units at Khmelnytskyi NPP, is one of the key directions of Ukraine's energy strategy until 2050. Work is underway to maintain the structural integrity of the facility. Over six hundred workers from Zaporizhzhia NPP are engaged in this project. They all arrived here from the occupied Enerhodar.
"They are essentially forced to be without their primary workplace, and thus we utilize them here and pay them salaries," says Acting Chairman of the Board of JSC "NAEK "Energoatom" Petro Kotin.
For the convenience of the workers, a complete construction camp has been set up near the power units – with cafeterias, changing rooms, and showers. The trailers are insulated and equipped with everything necessary. In total, it will accommodate over a thousand workers.
"Construction begins with the living conditions of the personnel. So that the staff can come, change in clean conditions, work, and have lunch," says Deputy Head of the Construction Department of the Zaporizhzhia NPP branch Andriy Trokhymchuk.
Additionally, to accelerate the work on the two units, "Energoatom" has purchased modern transport.
"Currently, it is being used for planned repair and restoration work, and in the future, it will be used for the construction of new energy capacities," says General Director of the "VPP KhAES" branch Andriy Kozyura.
The energy sector's fleet has been supplemented with ambulances, bulldozers, loaders, and tractors. In total, 60 new vehicles have been purchased.
The third and fourth units are extremely important, energy experts assert. They will significantly enhance the capacity of the entire energy system of Ukraine. If the Verkhovna Rada passes the law on the completion of the Khmelnytskyi NPP, large-scale works can commence immediately.
"I believe that in three years and four and a half, we will accomplish the tasks set by both the Ministry of Energy and the government," says Acting Chairman of the Board of JSC "NAEK "Energoatom" Petro Kotin.
In addition to the third and fourth units, the energy experts plan to complete two more units using American technology. This would make the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant the largest not only in Ukraine but also in Europe.