Environmental NGOs calls President of Ukraine not to sign Law on Khmelnitsky NPP completion
September 7, 2012 – Local environmental organizations of Ukraine urged the President of Ukraine not to sign the law on construction of new power units at the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant. Experts warned Mr. Yanukovych about considerable technical, economic and environmental risks associated with this project in an open letter.
The appeal states that currently there is no strategic need for the construction of these power units because Ukraine has surplus installed power capacities and enormous potential of energy saving and modernization of existing power units. In addition, two Ukraine’s NPP power units can not produce current through lack of network capacity which indicates the existence of potential to increase power generation and delivery.
“While the developed countries of Europe and the world refuse to use nuclear energy, Ukraine plans to build power units designed in the last century. Also it is still unclear whether these reactors could be integrated into the existing building infrastructure of Khmelnytsky NPP”. – Arthur Denysenko, energy program coordinator of the National Ecological Center of Ukraine, says.
In addition, construction of power units will not enhance energy security of Ukraine; on the contrary, it will only exacerbate the dependence on neighboring countries. “According to the concluded agreements, Russia will become a monopoly supplier of fuel for the planned power units during the entire operating period” – appeal states.
“Rather than implementing nuclear project dubious from the technical and financial side, it would be more effective to invest in improving the efficiency of existing generating equipment and reducing energy intensity of the Ukrainian economy – Andriy Martynyuk, Chairman of the Board of YPEO “Ecoclub” says – it also enhances the stability of the unified energy system of Ukraine. In addition, it will allow to fulfill international obligations of Ukraine to the Energy Community”.
Environmentalists also note that submission of the draft Law violated the law of Ukraine, as cross-border consultations with neighboring countries were not completed within the framework of the Espoo Convention.
Let us recall, that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the draft Law of Ukraine № 11088 on siting, design and construction of 3, 4 power units of Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant on September 6, 2012.
For more information, contact:
Artur Denysenko
National Ecological Center of Ukraine
tel.: +380 44 3537841
arthur.denisenko AT necu.org.ua
www.necu.org.ua
