During a working trip to the Khmelnytskyi region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant, where he held a meeting with the management of the NNEGC Energoatom State Enterprise.
Acting President of NNEGC Energoatom Petro Kotin informed the President that Ukraine ranks eighth in the world and fifth in Europe in terms of electricity production at nuclear power plants. About 450,000 workers are employed in this energy sector. At all levels, the industry paid UAH 17 billion in taxes to the state budget.
"The nuclear industry is our pride. It provides cheap and safe electricity," Petro Kotin noted.
During a meeting, a number of issues important for the development of nuclear energy were discussed.
Following a meeting, the Head of State set a task to develop a Strategy for the Development of Nuclear Energy of Ukraine with specific deadlines.
The President will also instruct the Cabinet of Ministers to provide financing for the construction of the third and fourth power units of KhNPP, to resolve the issue of debts to Energoatom and to bring the company to a higher level of subordination of public administration.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that it was an important meeting.
"We are all interested in Ukrainian nuclear energy, which provides the cheapest electricity, especially for our society," he said.
The President also stressed the importance of the industry for job creation.
"If we launch the third and fourth units, the construction and the launch will provide additional 100 thousand jobs across the country. It seems to me that this is a task that the state needs to deal with," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The President pointed out that the country's leadership must visit strategically important facilities constantly to see what is happening there.
"The country's leadership must be at all such strategic enterprises in Ukraine to see what is happening with their own eyes. So I'm glad I'm here. I am sure that Denys Anatoliyovych will be here (Shmyhal - ed.)," the Head of State added.
