Not enough water resources in Ukraine to build nine nuclear reactors – expert

Due to climate change, Ukraine may not have enough water resources to build nine more nuclear reactors.

"A large area of our country is characterized by low and very low availability of water resources. The territories of Crimea, Donbas, and southern regions have the poorest [availability of water resources]. A total of 11 power units are planned to be located in this part of Ukraine, which will need to be cooled in some way. In this situation, we have to take into account not only the existing lack of resources but also the climate change that is already being observed," Olha Liashchuk, project coordinator at NGO Ecoclub, told a briefing at Ukrinform news agency.

According to her, due to climate change, a growing increase in the deficit of water resources is expected by 2050. This may cause the threat of stopping the operation of the pumps and the technical water supply system at NPP.

According to the expert, with such problems with water, the authorities should think about whether there will be enough water to cool all these units. After all, Ukraine may face a problem: cooling a reactor or providing people and agriculture with fresh water.

"Of course, when implementing such plans, and in principle when developing such plans, it is necessary to conduct a thorough study of water sufficiency not only for cooling the planned NPP units but also for all environmental objects. And these studies must take into account climate change forecasts in each of the regions where such construction is planned," Liashchuk added.

As reported, the number of power units to be built in Ukraine together with Westinghouse will increase to nine.