The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine extended the license for the operation of power unit № 1 of the South Ukraine NPP until December 2, 2033. In the presence of the Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko, Oleh Korikov, Acting SNRIU Chairman, handed over the relevant permits to the President of SE «NNEGC «Energoatom» Petro Kotin.

According to the results of the state examination of nuclear and radiation safety, the board of the SNRIU recognized the possibility of safe operation of the power unit as justified.

German Galushchenko thanked the power plant personnel and the regulator for the successful and promptly completed work, the Ministry of Energy reports.

“This is not the first decision to continue the operation of the power unit, but there is a feature of today. The continuation took place without a long shutdown of the unit, which made it possible to generate additional electricity for the power system. I am glad that we optimize all processes. This is important in terms of the energy security of the country”, the minister said.

The head of the Ministry of Energy added that after the completion of the next 10 years of operation, unit № 1 of the South Ukraine NPP will become the first 1000 MW unit in Ukraine, which has been operating for 50 years.

Oleh Korikov emphasized that the decision on the extension of the license was guided by compliance with nuclear and radiation safety standards during the operation of the power unit.

“This decision is the result of careful and systematic work of the personnel of the operating organization - Energoatom and the South Ukraine NPP, the Ministry of Energy, the staff of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine and experts of the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety”, Oleh Korikov noted and wished the nuclear engineers of the South Ukraine NPP safe work.