Ukrainian Energoatom is working on a deal to purchase reactor vessels for the Khmelnitsky NPP from Bulgaria using a loan – vice president

The state nuclear energy company of Ukraine Energoatom is finalizing an agreement to purchase reactor vessels from Bulgaria to complete the construction of the third and fourth units of the Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). The company intends to finance this purchase through a loan, Vice President Hartmut Jakob said.

“We are at the stage of signing an agreement on the purchase of equipment from Bulgaria for the third and fourth power units of the Khmelnitsky NPP. As soon as the results are known, we will provide updated information. We are considering the possibility of using credit financing for this purchase and do not plan to use depreciation funds, as they are intended for other needs,” Yakob said during a meeting of the parliamentary working group on control over the financial and economic activities of Energoatom. A live broadcast of the meeting could be seen on the Facebook page of the first deputy chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Energy Oleksiy Kucherenko.

When Kucherenko asked whether the company’s supervisory board had approved the purchase, Yakob replied that “investment thresholds for purchases for 2025–2026 have been approved.”

According to the Law of Ukraine “On the acquisition of equipment necessary for the construction of power units No. 3 and 4 of the Khmelnitsky NPP” (No. 4231-IX, adopted on February 11, 2025), Energoatom is authorized to conclude a contract with the state-owned Bulgarian company National Electric Company (EAD) for the purchase of equipment, including nuclear reactor vessels, components and other related equipment necessary for the future construction of power units.

In addition, the law gives Energoatom the authority to negotiate, conclude contracts, sign agreements, arrange payments in accordance with the terms of the contract, and manage the reception and storage of purchased equipment. However, the law does not specify the cost of the equipment from Bulgaria.

Regarding the future construction of the third and fourth power units of the Khmelnitsky NPP, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has been instructed to submit to parliament a draft law on the selection of a site, design and construction of power units, as well as to update the feasibility study.

The law clearly states that Energoatom is prohibited from carrying out any construction work, as well as from concluding contracts for the selection of a site, design and construction of power units No. 3 and 4 until the relevant legislation comes into force.