Energoatom and Holtec International strengthen nuclear partnership

Ukraine consolidates its energy security by intensifying its collaboration with Holtec International for the deployment of modular reactors and spent fuel management.

Share:

Accord Energoatom Holtec International

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

The recent online signing of the agreement between Energoatom and Holtec International, observed by Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, marks a crucial step forward for nuclear power in Ukraine. The agreement covers the deployment of Holtec’s SMRs and the efficient management of spent nuclear fuel.

The strategic role of partnership in energy security

Petro Kotin, acting president of Energoatom, stresses the importance of the agreement for the Ukrainian energy sector and the national economy, while the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is under attack from Russian drones. The project envisages the creation of nuclear power generation facilities that will enhance Ukraine’s energy security and stimulate its economic development.

Industrial and economic implications

Shawn Anderson of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine emphasized the impact of the Master Agreement for the establishment of an advanced manufacturing facility in Ukraine. This facility will be dedicated to the local production of equipment for Holtec’s SMRs, as well as systems for the storage and transportation of spent nuclear fuel, thus promoting Ukraine’s energy security and autonomy.

Technical advances and upcoming projects

Holtec has been working on its SMR unit since 2011, with significant evolutions in the design, notably for the SMR-300. This pressurized water reactor can produce around 300 MW of electrical energy or 1050 MW of thermal power for industrial applications, while remaining safe even in the absence of human intervention.

Future commitments and local construction

In November, Holtec and Energoatom announced plans to build a plant in Ukraine for the production of containers, currently manufactured in the USA, for the storage of spent nuclear fuel. This follows the commissioning in 2022 of Holtec’s centralized spent fuel storage facility in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, a project initiated in 2005.

Thus, the agreement between Energoatom and Holtec International is a significant step towards Ukraine’s empowerment in the nuclear energy sector, offering prospects for enhanced energy security and economic development through technological innovation and local production.

Arkansas has appointed Excel Services to analyse the economic, technological and logistical outlook of a new nuclear programme, with results expected within ten months.
Operator Belgoprocess has received authorisation to build a new facility to store waste generated from the ongoing decommissioning of Belgium’s nuclear reactors.
The British government has launched a consultation on the regulatory justification request for Rolls-Royce’s modular reactor, a decisive step towards its approval in the country’s nuclear market.
GVH and Samsung C&T join forces to accelerate international deployment of BWRX-300 small modular reactors, with a strong focus on Sweden and the consolidation of the nuclear supply chain.
The Swedish government aims to establish a right to compensation for operators if a political reversal leads to the early shutdown of nuclear plants, in a move to reduce investment risks.
Duke Energy adds a large nuclear reactor project to its 2025 plan for the Carolinas, anticipating electricity demand more than twice previous forecasts.
EDF has selected Arabelle Solutions to supply two complete turbine islands for the Sizewell C nuclear power plant, strengthening their industrial cooperation initiated at Hinkley Point C.
The Italian government has approved a bill granting the executive authority to regulate the return of nuclear energy, in line with European carbon neutrality and energy security targets for 2050.
Framatome and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission have commissioned a specialised industrial line in Jeumont for the manufacturing of nuclear components used in French Navy vessels.
Italian company Terra Innovatum is advancing the commercialisation of its SOLO micro-reactor, with two new partnerships and $42.5mn in funding as part of a merger with a listed company.
The Nurlikum Mining joint venture enters a new industrial phase with the launch of the South Djengeldi project, targeting annual production of 500 tonnes of uranium over ten years in Uzbekistan.
The containment structure over Chernobyl’s destroyed reactor lost power after a Russian strike, as Zaporizhzhia remains cut off from external electricity for over a week.
Uranium deliveries to U.S. civilian operators rose 8% in 2024, while the average price climbed to its highest level since 2012, according to the latest available data.
The Vice-Chairman of Russia’s Security Council believes more countries will develop nuclear weapons and generative AI technologies as a result of increasing public sector efforts.
An international tribunal ruled in favour of French company Orano against the State of Niger, which had blocked the sale of uranium extracted from the Arlit mine since taking control of the site in 2023.
US-based Oklo and Sweden’s Blykalla join forces to coordinate supply chains and regulatory data sharing to accelerate the commercial deployment of their metal-cooled small modular reactors.
EDF plans a massive €25bn ($26.5bn) investment to modernise its nuclear fleet, focusing on reactor lifetime extension and preparing for new nuclear projects in France.
The French Energy Regulatory Commission set the full nuclear cost at €60.3/MWh by 2026, outlining the taxation thresholds applicable under the market reform scheduled for 2026.
The Ministry of Energy will initiate talks with developers of small nuclear reactors after signing a cooperation agreement with the United States to conduct preliminary studies on their deployment.
The restart of the Flamanville EPR reactor, initially scheduled for 1 October, has been delayed by more than two weeks due to a maintenance operation on the primary circuit.