Ukraine’s Cabinet has adopted an ordinance detailing “organisational measures” for the construction of Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear power plants at the Khmelnitski nuclear site in the northwest of the country, with a feasibility study to be prepared as the next step.

State nuclear operating company Energoatom said construction of АР1000 power plants in Ukraine opens the way to the future of the country’s nuclear energy industry.

“Today, the government laid the groundwork for [nuclear power’s] development for many decades to come,” Energoatom said.

Energoatom president Petro Kotin said the company welcomed the decision, which will see Ukraine continue the implementation of modern technologies, strengthen its energy sector and “accelerate the reorientation of the Ukrainian energy industry to Western standards”.