During the COP29 climate conference in Baku, the United States and Ukraine announced the launch of 3 new projects in the field of small modular reactors (SMRs).
This was reported by the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine.
The partnership will be implemented under the FIRST program (Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology). It will include 3 interrelated projects:
- "Clean fuel" project: construction of a pilot plant for the production of pure hydrogen and ammonia.
- The "Phoenix" project: involves the conversion of coal-fired power plants to SMR.
- "Clean Steel" project: development of a road map for the decarbonization of the steel industry with the help of SMR.
The ministry noted that this initiative is a strategic step for:
- achievement of global climate goals;
- regional energy security;
- economic growth;
- prospects of Ukraine's post-war leadership in the use of advanced nuclear technologies.
People's deputy Olena Kryvoruchkina said on her Facebook page that the total funding of 3 new projects in the field of MMR will amount to $30 million.
"Ukraine links its future with nuclear energy. Despite the fact that our country survived the accident at the Chornobyl NPP and now faces unprecedented challenges in connection with Russia's occupation of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe – the Zaporizhzhia NPP, we continue to move forward, modernizing our current nuclear park and implementing our plans for the construction of new nuclear generating capacities," the minister said Energy Minister of Ukraine Herman Galushchenko in his online speech.
Earlier, EcoPolitic told that the European Parliament made a decision regarding the inclusion of nuclear energy in "green technologies". We also reported that Ukraine joined to the Global Platform of the Climate Club, participation in which will help attract investors to the green recovery of our country.
