The State Enterprise “National Nuclear Energy Generating Company “Energoatom” was established in October 1996. The Company operates four nuclear power plants with 15 power units, among which 13 power units are VVER-1000 and two power units VVER-440 with total installed capacity of 13,835 MW, 2 hydraulic units of Tashlyk PSP with installed capacity of 302 MW, and 2 hydraulic units of Oleksandrivka HPP with installed capacity of 11.5 MW.

Energoatom provides about 55% of Ukraine’s need for electricity, during autumn-winter periods this figure reaches 70%. Ukraine is the eighth in the world in terms of installed NPP capacity. Following the results of 2017, Ukraine was third in the world in the share of NPP electricity in the total electricity production in the country. Energoatom is a member of WANO, WNA, UER, INPRO, Ukrainian Nuclear Society and “Ukrainian Nuclear Forum” Association.

Four nuclear power plants - Zaporizhzhya, Rivne, South-Ukraine, Khmelnytsky, as well as “AtomRemontService”, “AtomEnergoMash”, “AtomKomplekt”, “AtomProjectEngineering”, “Emergency Technical Center”, “Energoatom – Trading”, “Donuzlavska WPS”, “Warehouse”, “AtomPrylad”, “Automation and Mechanical Engineering”, “Administrative Department” and Representative Office in Brussels are Separate Subdivisions of SE “NNEGC “Energoatom”.

In accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On the Use of Nuclear Energy and Radiation Safety” NNEGC “Energoatom” is assigned the functions of the operating organization responsible for safe electricity production. In addition to that, the main tasks of Energoatom are the lifetime extension of existing and construction of new generating capacities, procurement of fresh and export of spent nuclear fuel, establishment of national infrastructure of irradiated nuclear fuel management, physical protection of nuclear energy facilities, personnel retraining and qualification development, addressing the social issues of the Company’s employees etc.

Currently the Company is implementing a number of investment projects, the main of which are the rehabilitation of South-Ukraine NPP service water supply system, completion of Tashlyk PSP construction, construction of Khmelnytsky NPP power units 3 and 4; establishment of solid radioactive waste treatment complexes; construction of Centralized spent nuclear fuel storage facility.  

In 2017 the radioactive waste treatment complexes at Zaporizhzhya and Rivne NPP were commissioned into trial operation, as well as Building “G” of ZNPP Training Center on the basis of which the Center for Management and Maintenance Personnel Training is being established.

A significant amount of work has been performed regarding the diversification of nuclear fuel sources – Westinghouse fuel is used at 6 power units of Ukrainian NPPs. In July 2018 SUNPP power unit 3 has become the first unit operating solely Westinghouse fuel. In December 2019, SE “NNEGC “Energoatom” obtained a permission for commercial operation of Westinghouse fuel at power unit No. 3 of South-Ukraine NPP. 

In 2017 the project on rehabilitation of the 750 kVt outdoor switchgear was implemented to connect 750 kVt high voltage transmission line “Zaporizhzhya NPP – Kakhovska”. A significant amount of work has been performed on the project “Rehabilitation of SUNPP service water supply system”. In 2017 the project “Power Bridge “Ukraine – European Union” was launched. Due to this project, initiated by Energoatom”, the conditions will be provided to integrate the unified Ukrainian power grid into European system ENTSO-E by means of electricity export from Khmelnytsky NPP unit 2 to European Union countries. The project will create a financial support mechanism for completing the construction of KhNPP power units 3 and 4.

The Centralized spent nuclear fuel storage facility construction works are carried out according to the approved schedule. Ukraine has already received a significant part of the equipment for the first stage of CSNFSF, manufactured by the American company Holtec, which also provided the technology for storage facility construction. The commissioning of the 1st CSNFSF start-up complex is planned for 2019.

The Company’s specialists are working on the extension of Ukrainian power units lifetime. The year of 2010 became determining in this regard, because for the first time in Ukraine after rehabilitation and modernization the lifetime of Rivne NPP power units 1 and 2 was extended for 20 years. On July 16, 2018 The Board of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine extended the lifetime of RNPP power unit 3 for 20 years until December 11, 2037.

On November 28, 2013, at the meeting of the Board of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, it was decided to extend the lifetime of South-Ukraine NPP power unit 1 for 10 years (until December 02, 2023) beyond the design lifetime. On December 07, 2015, at the meeting of the Board of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, it was decided to extend the lifetime of South-Ukraine NPP power unit 2 for 10 years (until December 31, 2025) beyond the design lifetime. On December 6, 2019, the SNRIU issued a license to perform activities at the lifetime stage “Operation of nuclear installation of power unit No. 3 of South-Ukraine NPP for 10 years (until February 10, 2030). 

Zaporizhzhya NPP already operates 4 power units with extended lifetime. Upon a decision of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine made on September 13, 2016 the lifetime of ZNPP power unit 1was extended until December 23, 2025, on October 03, 2016 ZNPP power unit 2 lifetime was extended until February 19, 2026, on November 03, 2017 ZNPP power unit 3 lifetime was extended until March 05, 2027, on October 11, 2018 ZNPP power unit 4 lifetime was extended until April 04, 2028.

The Company is also working on choosing a new type of reactor, searching for alternative nuclear fuel options and on other important issues. In June 2019, SE “NNEGC “Energoatom”, SSTC NRS and Holtec International signed an Agreement on Partnership and establishment of International Consortium “Ukrainian Module” on implementation of Small Modular Reactor technology SMR-160 in Ukraine.