Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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# 92000E4048

**WRITTEN QUESTION P-4048/00 by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. European money for nuclear power stations in the Ukraine.** 
  
*Official Journal 163 E , 06/06/2001 P. 0237 - 0238*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION P-4048/00

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(20 December 2000)

Subject: European money for nuclear power stations in the Ukraine

On 7 December the EBRD decided by a bare majority to give the Ukrainian government a loan (of ca. 240 million) for dismantling two nuclear power stations in Kmelnitzky and Rivne. The loan is conditional on Euratom acting as cofinancier (with a loan of 656 million).

There is a Memorandum of Understanding for this project dating from 1995, an explicit condition of which is that the Ukraine should organise its energy supplies on the principle of least cost planning. Using nuclear power stations does not, in fact, respect this principle.

Since the government in Kiev has done almost nothing since 1995 in the way of structural changes to energy supplies, it may be concluded that the Ukraine is merely waiting for the EBRD/Euratom loan to dismantle the K2R4 reactors, while using the situation of the Chernobyl reactors as a means of blackmail.

There is considerable opposition on the part of regional and local authorities to the K2R4 project, but much enthusiasm for small-scale energy projects (hydropower), combined heat and power and energy savings.

Does the Commission agree that the proposed Euratom loan should not be granted because of the great financial uncertainty, the technical risks and the non-compliance with the 1995 Memorandum of Understanding?

Does the Commission agree that help should be given to the Ukraine to develop and reconstruct energy supplies on the basis of safe, sustainable energy sources and energy efficiency?

What action does the Commission intend to take to prevent European money from being spent on nuclear projects outside the EU which are a source of controversy within the EU?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(26 January 2001)

On 13 December 2000, the Commission has approved granting a Euratom loan to contribute to the financing of Khmelnitsky unit 2 and Rovno unit 4 nuclear units in Ukraine. The decision has been taken after thorough consideration of the nuclear safety, environmental, economic and financial aspects of the project.

The Commission considers that this loan will be instrumental to ensure that these reactors are completed to a safety level acceptable under Western-type licensing practices, will pave the way for improving the safety level of other nuclear units in the country and will have a positive impact on the progress of reforms in the power sector.

The Commission is part of the Task Force that brings together Ukrainian and international institutions in an effort to provide for the modernisation of the power sector. In addition, the Commission is providing technical assistance in support of projects of conventional energy and of energy efficiency.

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