Economist Borys Kushniruk has called for the immediate commencement of construction on the third and fourth power units of the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant (KhNPP). He argues that initiating this project now is crucial for guaranteeing Ukraine's future energy security.
Kushniruk believes that Ukraine should not wait for the end of the ongoing conflict to start building new nuclear units. The post-war reconstruction is expected to significantly increase electricity demand, particularly from large industrial enterprises. He asserts that nuclear energy should form the backbone of Ukraine's energy system.
"We need to start the completion of the KhNPP now to be ready for the surge in electricity demand after the war," Kushniruk stated. He also mentioned that restoring old thermal power plants is impractical, advocating instead for the development of nuclear energy alongside a network of small renewable sources to balance the energy grid.
Kushniruk stressed the urgency due to uncertainties surrounding the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which remains under foreign control. Beginning construction on new units at KhNPP would mitigate risks associated with energy dependency.
Ukraine relies heavily on nuclear energy as its primary electricity source. Acknowledging this, adversaries have targeted substations that transmit power from nuclear plants to the grid. Destruction of these substations could lead to widespread outages, even if the nuclear plants remain operational.
To address this threat, Ukraine's Ministry of Energy has collaborated with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to extend monitoring missions at key substations. IAEA inspectors are working to safeguard these facilities from potential attacks by equating strikes on substations with attacks on nuclear plants themselves. This diplomatic effort has made it more challenging for aggressors to target critical energy infrastructure, marking a significant victory for Ukraine.
