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Ukraine to complete construction of Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant 3rd, 4th units

At present, Ukrainian and Russian specialists are studying technical possibilities of using the existing abandoned sites

KIEV, April 3 (Itar-Tass) – Ukraine will complete the construction of the 3rd and 4th units of the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavitsky told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.

At present, Ukrainian and Russian specialists are studying technical possibilities of using the existing abandoned sites, Stavitsky said.

The Ukrainian minister met head of Rosatom State Corporation Sergei Kiriyenko in Moscow to discuss atomic cooperation.

Commenting on the Khmelnitsky project, Stavitsky said, “Now specialists are studying possibilities of using the constructive sites, which had been built earlier on these units.”

He did not rule out that the contractor could give up the variant of “completing the construction of units”. “Such construction will be expedient due to the change of the situation, primarily of the IAEA requirements,” the Ukrainian minister said. “I mean new international requirements to ensure safety at nuclear power plants due to the Fukushima disaster,” he added.

Earlier, Ukrainian Vice-Prime Minister Yuri Boiko said it was necessary to build the 3rd and 4th units from scratch. The basements were laid many years ago and “their state was not studied thoroughly”, the vice-prime minister said, adding, “It does make sense to start the new construction.”

Experts say the construction of the 3rd unit is 75 percent prepared while the construction of the 4th unit is 28 percent ready.

Atomstroyexport, which is Ukraine’s partner, won the tender in 2008.

The Ukrainian and Russian government signed a framework agreement on completing the construction of the Khmelnitsky plant units on June 9, 2008. Under the document, Russia will provide finances to the project.

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