Energoatom and Holtec Signed Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Using Small Modular Reactors

Energoatom and Holtec International (USA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the cooperation in using SMR-160 small modular reactors in Ukraine. The document was signed by Energoatom President Yurii Nedashkovskyi and President and Chief Executive Officer of Holtec International Dr. Chris Singh in Camden (USA) on 28 February.

The Memorandum states that it is aimed not only at licensing SMR-160 technology in Ukraine and further construction of these reactors at Ukrainian NPPs but also at partial localization of equipment production for SMR-160 at Ukrainian enterprises. Thus, according to the document, cooperation between Energoatom and Holtec International will help Ukraine to become a leading world exporter of reactor systems, structures and components for small modular reactors.

As underlined in the Memorandum, SMR-160 reactors may provide a new qualitative safety level of NPP operation due to passive safety systems.

To implement the Memorandum, establishing a joint Coordination Committee of Energoatom and Holtec International is envisaged. The Committee’s primary task will be to provide assessment of regulatory documents used to develop the SMR-160 project for implementing these documents in Ukraine. The Committee will focus on the comprehensive assessment of the IAEA INPRO methodology and evaluate its compliance with EUR and WENRA requirements taking into account project analysis, which is already under performance by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). The next task of the Committee will be to evaluate the infrastructure of the nuclear industry in Ukraine and to develop joint proposals on the localization of SMR-160 equipment production in Ukraine.

It should be noted that earlier the Holtec International appealed to the top officials of Ukraine with a proposal to establish a hub in Ukraine for distributing technologies of small modular reactors in Europe, Asia and Africa with the localization of equipment production for them at Ukrainian enterprises. The technology of small modular reactors (SMR) is recognized as one of the most promising areas in the construction of nuclear power plants. SMRs have a much higher safety level compared to generally used reactors since they do not comprise equipment requiring external power consumption and include other passive safety systems.

SMR-160 reactors also may be operated in the load-following mode, be constructed on small areas and do not require supply of high power lines.

The global SMR market is estimated at about $ 1 trillion since 2025.

At the end of 2016, Energoatom became a member of the Holtec Advisory Council of Small Modular Reactors.

Energoatom Press Service