Ukrainian nuclear plant secretly receives 8 critical reactor drives from Czech firm

Czech company Škoda JS has successfully delivered eight new drives for two VVER 440 reactors to the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Ukraine.

The delivery of eight new reactor drives was completed just before Christmas, as reported by the Ukrainian news outlet Novinky. Moreover, the whole exercise was kept a secret until the reactor drives safely reached their destination.

“Due to repeated Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, we are only informing about the order now that we have unloaded the last cargo at the destination,” explained a spokesperson for the company, Karel Samec, as reported by Novinky.

Notably, these drives ensure the stable operation of VVER 440 reactors and help in precise regulation of energy output. This, in turn, results in a consistent electricity supply.

“They ensure stable reactor performance and allow its regulation,” remarked the spokesperson.

Škoda JS is a crucial partner

In this context, Škoda JS plays a crucial role, as it is the only non-Russian company that can manufacture and supply these specific types of drives to Ukrainian nuclear power plants.

This recent delivery represents a portion of a larger contract signed in 2019 for a total of 76 drives destined for the Rivne NPP. The majority of these drives have already been installed and are actively contributing to the plant’s operation.

“The remaining ones are ready to replace the original ones, whose lifespan has expired,” asserted Samec.

Interestingly, Škoda JS was previously owned by Russian entities, which led to complications due to international sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.

However, the acquisition of Škoda JS by ČEZ in June 2022 paved the way for the finalization of the agreement and the successful delivery of these critical components.

“It was only after ČEZ took over the company and Škoda JS was removed from the sanctions list that the final agreement was possible,” highlighted the spokesperson.

Strengthening Ukraine’s energy security

Beyond this current contract, Škoda JS is actively engaged in discussions to expand its cooperation with Ukraine. This includes potential contracts for modernized drives for the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant and participation in the planned expansion of the Khmelnytskyi NPP.

Škoda JS intends to leverage its experience gained during the completion and commissioning of the Mochovce nuclear power plant in Slovakia for these future projects.

The successful delivery of these reactor drives aims to maintain critical energy infrastructure despite the formidable challenges posed by conflict. This collaboration is expected to strengthen Ukraine’s energy security.

“In the second half of the 1990s, we became one of the suppliers of components for a number of units at nuclear power plants in Ukraine,” said Skoda JS while describing its collaboration with Ukraine.

“Over the past more than 20 years, we have supplied to the individual units almost 900 linear step drives and more than 30 sections of compact storage racks for the wet storage of spent nuclear fuel in the spent fuel pool.”