U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Company said that it had reached an agreement with Ukraine's National Nuclear Energy Generating Company, NAEK Energoatom, to strengthen ties in order to “enhance the safety and operations of Ukraine's nuclear power fleet.”
The partners issued a joint statement on the agreement that was announced during a visit to Kiev by a delegation of chief executive officers, including Westinghouse's interim President and Chief Executive Officer Jose Gutierrez. The delegation was led by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The statement released late last week said, “Today NAEK Energoatom and Westinghouse are pleased to announce that we have reached agreement to significantly deepen our partnership that will provide technology and knowledge transfer to enhance the safety and operations of Ukraine’s nuclear power fleet.
“In light of Ukraine’s strong reliance on nuclear energy and commitment to the highest operational and safety standards; together with Westinghouse’s unparalleled experience in providing industry leading technology and operating performance enhancements, Energoatom and Westinghouse have agreed to begin work on a Safety Optimization Program (SOP). The SOP will deliver continued safety improvements to the Ukrainian nuclear fleet that will meet the highest international safety benchmarks as well as specific requirements associated with the European Union’s standards as specified by the Western European Nuclear Regulatory Association (WENRA). These safety improvements, which also complement the substantial safety-related work already underway through the Safety Upgrade Program administered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), will additionally bring significant operating improvements to Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. The benefits of these operational improvements are intended to increase the annual availability of Ukrainian nuclear power plants that would result in substantial increases in power supply, profitability and meet safety requirements required for export of power to the European Union.
“The SOP will bring together the best practices of global operating experience and advanced technology combined with Ukrainian experts and industries such as Westron and Turboatom. This agreement to proceed on a Safety Optimization Program represents a significant new partnership between NAEK Energoatom and Westinghouse in providing joint support to Ukraine’s nuclear energy.”