Ukraine is actively expanding its strategic partnership with the American corporation Westinghouse Electric Company to solidify its energy independence from Russia. To facilitate this transition, a delegation of Ukrainian nuclear specialists recently visited the company’s manufacturing facilities in Sweden, where nuclear fuel for Ukraine’s reactors is produced, UNIAN reports.
The primary objective of the visit was to inspect the execution of the contract for supplying fuel assemblies to the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP). Furthermore, the delegation focused on deepening cooperation to ensure the complete transition of Ukraine’s energy sector from Russian nuclear fuel to advanced Western technologies. Led by RNPP General Director Taras Tkach, the Ukrainian team reviewed the entire Westinghouse fuel production cycle in Sweden, from the creation of the fuel matrix to final packaging and pre-shipment preparation.
The Rivne NPP presents a unique technological challenge, as it operates smaller VVER-440 reactors. For decades, it was widely believed that there was no viable alternative to Russian nuclear fuel for these specific units. Consequently, RNPP’s Units 1 and 2 relied entirely on Russian supplies until 2023. However, Ukraine initiated a diversification program long before the full-scale invasion. In September 2020, a landmark contract was signed with Westinghouse. By September 2023, the first batch of American fuel was successfully loaded into RNPP’s Unit 2. This monumental engineering transition was completed in a record-breaking timeframe of just one and a half years.
As of 2026, Westinghouse nuclear fuel is partially or fully utilized across all reactor units at the Rivne NPP. According to Taras Tkach, the next phase of this strategic partnership involves implementing an 18-month fuel cycle and increasing the power output of the power units. In the context of national electricity shortages caused by the ongoing war, these upgrades are vital for the stability of Ukraine’s energy grid and broader economic resilience.
“Our joint work is currently focused on developing advanced fuel assemblies designed for an 18-month operational cycle, which will also enable our VVER-1000 units to operate at higher capacity levels,” Tkach stated. He emphasized that while some European nuclear plants are transitioning to extended cycles using Russian-made fuel, the Rivne NPP is committed to achieving this milestone exclusively with Westinghouse technology.
Westinghouse Electric Company, a global leader in nuclear energy founded in 1999, plays an instrumental role in securing Ukraine’s energy sovereignty. Beyond fuel supplies, the partnership is expanding into manufacturing and infrastructure. Previous agreements finalized at the URC-2025 conference in Rome outlined plans for Ukraine to domestically produce nuclear fuel using Westinghouse technology. Additionally, Energoatom and Westinghouse have signed contracts to construct new reactor units at the Khmelnytskyi NPP, further cementing Ukraine’s integration into the Western energy ecosystem.