Ukraine and Poland discuss Khmelnitsky expansion plans

The ministry said that Tuesday's talks, which took place virtually, were within the framework of the United Nations' Espoo Convention, which aims to ensure there is consultation when one country's plans might have an environmental impact beyond its borders.

Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine Vitaliy Kindrativ said at the start oif the meeting: "We are committed to an open dialogue, are ready to answer all questions from the Polish side, and look forward to constructive interaction."

The Ukrainian ministry said that during the meeting it "provided the necessary materials and clarifications to the Polish side's questions, as a result of which the parties agreed to consider the expert consultations completed".

And Kindrativ said they were open to further dialogue and "committed to constructive cooperation with Polish partners to ensure transparency, safety, and compliance with international environmental standards".

In April 2024 Ukraine officially notified Austria, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary about the project. The ministry says that all but Hungary have said they plan to participate in consultations.

Ukraine has 15 reactors, capable of generating half its electricity, at four existing nuclear power plants, including the six-unit Zaporizhzhia plant which has been under Russian military control since early March 2022.

The country has plans for at least nine Westinghouse AP1000 units, including the two new ones planned at Khmelnitsky.

Khmelnitsky's first reactor was connected to the grid in 1987, but work on three other reactors was halted in 1990, at a time when unit 3 was 75% complete. Work on the second reactor restarted and it was connected to the grid in 2004. There is an on-going goal to complete units 3 and 4 - the two AP1000s would become the fifth and six units at Khmelnitsky, which is located about 200 miles west of Kiev and about 140 miles from the border with Poland.