Westinghouse Electric Company said it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ukrainian turbine builder PJSC Turboatom to explore the potential of increasing the capacity of Ukraine's nuclear power plants and consider options for joint projects elsewhere.
Westinghouse said the MOU included an intent to explore cooperative projects for “other similar units globally,” meaning the companies would not restrict their efforts to nuclear expansion only in Ukraine.
National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom (NNEGC Energoatom) is investigating how to improve the capacity of its VVWR-1000 (V-320) reactors up to 110 percent of the nominal level. There are currently 13 VVER-1000 type reactors of 1,000 MW gross electrical capacity operating in the Ukraine.
Westinghouse has been involved with the Ukrainian market since 1992. The company began its work in Ukraine through the supply of safety related upgrades to the country's nuclear fleet in the mid-1990s. In subsequent years, Westinghouse established a significant engineering presence in Ukraine, which was combined with a transfer of technology and training of hundreds of Ukrainian nuclear specialists.
Westinghouse also has established a successful joint venture in Kharkiv for almost 20 years that currently has approximately 200 employees, who are trained to European Union and U.S. standards, but also are developing products tailored to Ukrainian and global markets.