They are not looking to revamp the entire reactor along Western lines and still such an effort will cost more than a billion dollars. Kyd said such reactors would never be licensed in the West. Sussex University's Thomas explains that Ukraine did propose building a gas-power plant to replace Chornobyl in 1995, but the West reportedly rejected the plan, fearing Kyiv would become dependent on Russian gas. Thomas further suggests the reasons remain unclear, but he says Western powers with a strong nuclear industry, especially Germany, France and the United States, have all backed the project. Ukraine also has a strong nuclear lobby, which retains strong ties with its Russian counterpart from the Soviet era.
All parties are interested in the profits construction projects bring.