Energoatom and Hyundai E&C discuss cooperation
During their meeting they discussed the priorities for development of Ukraine's nuclear programme, which includes plans for as many as nine new Westinghouse AP1000 units, plus a possible roll-out of small modular reactors (SMRs).
Kotin said: "In order to achieve the goals we have set, we are interested in cooperation with new partners. So Hyundai E&C could participate in these projects."
He added that he hoped international pressure over the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant would lead to its return to Ukrainian control, after which "Energoatom will count on the support of its partners to restore the safe operation of the plant".
According to Energoatom, Park "expressed his support for Ukraine and expressed his desire to deepen cooperation between the companies. The South Korean company is ready to join Ukrainian projects on the expansion of nuclear generation, as well as the implementation of joint innovation and research projects".
In November Hyundai Engineering & Construction, part of the Hyundai Group, signed a memorandum on mutual understanding with Ukraine's state grid operator Ukrenergo to cooperate on researching the possibilities of developing the electricity transmission system in Ukraine.
Ukraine has 15 nuclear units generating about half of its electricity, including the six at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant which has been under Russian military control since early March 2022. Last month, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said the process of adding four new units at the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant - the construction/completion of the part-built third and fourth units based on VVER-1000 technology and two new Westinghouse AP1000 units - would start this year.
In May 2022, Hyundai E&C signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Westinghouse to jointly participate in global AP1000 plant opportunities.