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Ukraine’s Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Volodymyr Demchyshyn expects that the share of nuclear power in total electricity generation across Ukraine will grow to 60% from the current 55% by the end of 2015.
"Currently, Energoatom is the main pillar of the electricity market accounting for 55% of the total power generation. I expect that this share will increase further next year. We estimate that the share of Energoatom in energy output can reach 60% by the end of the year," Demchyshyn said when speaking at an anti-crisis energy staff meeting in the Cabinet of Ministers, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
Increasing power generation by means of nuclear power plants, Ukraine will be able to reduce its dependence on imports of deficit coal grades, according to the minister.
"With an effective use of Energoatom we can reduce dependence on coal by at least 5 million tonnes per year. That is the volume of coal we need to supply from external sources," Demchyshyn said.
Read alsoChina shows interest in Ukraine’s nuclear energyUkraine ranks seventh in the world in terms of nuclear power generation capacity. All power generating units are of VVER type. There are four nuclear power plants operating in Ukraine with 15 power generating units. Zaporizhia nuclear power plant has six power generating units with total capacity of 6 GW, being the largest in Europe.