Energoatom JSC planned a number of purchases for the amount of UAH 366.14 million for the construction of new power units at the Khmelnytsky Nuclear Station (KhNPP) for 2025. These purchases will be paid for by money that is collected for electricity by Energoatom.
According to information published in the system "Prozorro", the largest purchases will be related to the survey of existing equipment and purchase of new in Bulgaria and the US for the completion of 3 and 4 power units, as well as the construction of power units 5 and 6. Last week, these plans were announced by President of Ukraine.
One of the main purchases is the purchase of AR1000 reactor for power unit 5, which Energoatom concluded with the US company Westinghouse in December 2023. The cost of the agreement amounted to UAH 16.42 billion, of which $ 350 million will go to the equipment installation itself, and $ 137.5 million - for staff payment and other expenses. Supply of equipment is expected in 2028.
However, according to the information in the media, Energoatom planned a tender for inspection of this American equipment only in July 2025, worth 120 million UAH. This raises the question of why an agreement for the purchase of equipment was concluded without prior to check its physical condition.
The purchase of Russian reactors VVER-1000, which is stored in a warehouse in Bulgaria after were intended for the construction of NPP "Belen" is also planned. In 2012, Bulgaria abandoned the project, and Russian equipment remained without use. The cost of these reactors has increased from $ 600 million to $ 1.1 billion in ten years of storage.
In addition, in February 2025, Energoatom plans to spend UAH 107 million for inspection of equipment previously delivered for the Khmelnytsky NPP unit # 3.
The situation with the purchase and inspection of the old and new equipment is concerned about the transparency and efficiency of spending of public funds, especially since these funds come from electricity consumers.
We remind that in the summer of 2024 the cost of electricity for the population increased from 2.64 UAH/kW · h to 4.32 UAH/kWh. According to experts, Energoatom, which produces more than 60% of electricity in Ukraine, was to raise more than UAH 30 billion for these half a year.
