EBRD money and nuclear safety in Ukraine: Being a lender does not guarantee leverage
May 12, 2015
The EBRD has denied its role in enabling Ukraine’s ageing units to operate beyond their design lifetime. It has also claimed that through the loan it has important leverage over its client Energoatom to help ensure a proper level of nuclear safety and the compliance with Ukraine’s international commitments in the nuclear energy sector. However, developments in January-May 2015 show the EBRD has been over-optimistic about the role and leverage it has gotten by granting the loan for the safety upgrade project.
Thursday’s decision to suspend operation of a Soviet-era nuclear unit in Ukraine should lead to its retirement
May 4, 2015
Prague, Kiev – CEE Bankwatch Network and the National Ecological Centre of Ukraine (NECU) welcome the Ukrainian State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate Council’s decision at its meeting last Thursday (April 30) to suspend the operation of unit 2 in the South Ukraine nuclear power plant once it exceeds its design lifetime next week. According to the Council’s decision, a lifetime extension license for this 30 year old nuclear unit could be considered in the future, but only if all required conditions are met.
Discovering Ukraine’s Nuclear Shadows
April 27, 2015
– UPDATING STORY – A Bankwatch fact-finding mission is currently in Ukraine to explore the state of nuclear energy in the country, particularly in light of intentions to extend the lifetime of 12 Soviet-era nuclear units.
Summary of an independent review of the proposed lifetime extension of Unit 1 at the South Ukraine nuclear power plant and its compliance with relevant nuclear safety standards
March 17, 2015
This independent study reveals critical vulnerabilities in the 32 year old nuclear unit 1 in the South Ukraine nuclear power plant, whose lifetime was extended by 10 years in December 2013. The study shows the reactor pressure vessel in unit 1 has several dangerous vulnerabilities that could lead to the appearance of micro-cracks in the vessel’s metal casing. The observed wear in a number of elements in the reactor vessel already exceeds tenfold tolerable levels.
New study sounds the alarm on safety in Ukrainian nuclear power plants operated beyond their design lifetime
March 17, 2015
Prague, Kiev – In December 2013, Ukraine’s State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate (SNRIU) has granted a 10 years lifetime extension license to unit 1 in the South Ukraine nuclear power plant. But a new independent study reveals critical vulnerabilities in the 32 year old nuclear unit that could have dangerous ramifications.
Ukrainian nuclear sector in defiance and in financial trouble
December 4, 2013
On November 28, the state nuclear regulator of Ukraine (SNRIU) allowed the continued operation of unit 1 of the South Ukrainian nuclear power plant (SUNPP-1) until December 2, 2023 – 10 years beyond its technically designed lifetime. The decision not only constitutes a breach of national regulation, but also disregards an unresolved case of non-compliance with the UN Espoo Convention. All this while Energoatom is in an increasingly tight financial situation.
New nuclear risks in Ukraine – decision expected tomorrow
March 11, 2013
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is expected to take a decision tomorrow on whether or not to provide a EUR 300 million loan for a nuclear power plant Safety Upgrade Programme in Ukraine. This article from our quarterly Bankwatch Mail sums up the issues at hand.
Public action in Ukraine: Reminding the EBRD of the meaning of nuclear safety
December 7, 2012
A protest action held today in front of the EBRD office in Kiev by Greenpeace and Bankwatch highlighted the dangers of Ukraine’s plans to prolong the operations of its 15 nuclear reactors. The groups called on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to take safety more seriously than Ukrainian authorities and invest in decommissioning rather than lifetime extensions.
If we’re not having one, then neither are you: time to grow up?
November 15, 2012
What a week in the fight for clean British energy: scandal erupted when Conservative Party members were exposed colluding with James Delinpole, in his obsessive efforts to wipe wind-farms off the map, and Ed Davey’s statement in the Commons yesterday about energy companies fixing gas prices demonstrated once again the urgent need to overhaul our energy system. Not only are elements of this government trying to undermine a green future here in the UK, they are also threatening green hopes in Ukraine. Among all the energy market mayhem, you’d be forgiven for missing it, but in addition to messing up our own clean energy karma, the UK may actually back a huge European loan for the Ukrainian nuclear power sector. http://www.foe.co.uk/blog/nuclear_energy_uk_ukraine_38000.html
