Nuclear energy in Ukraine

The «Energy strategy of Ukraine until the year 2030» which was adopted by the Ukrainian government in cooperation with the US company Holtec International is a direct threat to the national security  of Ukraine. After the most horrendous nuclear catastrophe in the history of humanity in Chernobyl, the “nuclear path of development” is again set to be imposed on Ukraine. In January 2006 the Ukrainian state enterprise National Atomic Energy Company (NAEK) „Energoatom” officially proclaimed its intention to build a depository for the nuclear waste (DWNF) in the 30-kilometre Chernobyl zone jointly with the American company „Holtec International”. A secret decision was taken “behind the scenes”. 

The Green Party of Ukraine and other nature protection and ecological organizations came forward with objections to a decision which was practically imposed on Ukrainian society. A country must not be held hostage by the powerful nuclear lobby which has practically chosen Ukraine as a laboratory for experiments and making profits. During the „Green ribbon” protest over 2 million people’s signatures were collected; citizens who do not wish to live in a country which is doomed to oblivion.

On January 15, 2007 the Ukrainian minister of fuel and energy Y. Boyko proclaimed the building of depositories for three Ukrainian nuclear power stations (Khmel'nitsk, Rivne and South). Without taking into consideration the risks and unreliability of the project, Ukrainian government officials confidently continue to protect the interests of the nuclear industry, exposing the population of Ukraine to numerous dangers.

Greens are convinced that focusing on short-term aims and hastily made decisions on energy policy threaten to result in catastrophe. The construction of depositories will have difficult socio-economic (losing of economic attractiveness and competitiveness) and ecological consequences (a detrimental effect on  the ecosystem) and does not solve the problem of nuclear waste (WNF), but it will double the costs. Today DWNF-2, built by Framatom for 100 million dollars, is still standing despite public protests . HOLTEC will insist on 200 millions dollars for the depository for the fuel of CHAES.

Risks:

1. Various scientific and public organizations question the quality of containers produced by „Holtec International”;

2. No control exists after the nuclear waste has been put into storage in containers;

3. In the case of the project going ahead, in 50 years enormous radio-active territories-reservations will appear in Ukraine;

4.  The main task of the Holtec company is to establish itself in the Ukrainian market for a long period.    Chris Singkh, representing Holtes expressed himself:  We plan to stay seriously and for a long time in Ukraine. In fact, we want to create a new production subdivision of  the company, similar to the one we have in the USA. Here there are excellent engineers and we can pay them less than Americans”.

 According to these facts we must not allow the nuclear tyranny which covers Ukraine today to continue. We oppose the introduction of American technologies in Ukraine, which could lead to the country’s complete elimination. We want to share the experience of other European countries (Finland, Germany) in relation to processing or storage of nuclear wastes and introduce such a policy in Ukraine.

The European Greens are against the development of nuclear energy as part of state strategy, foolhardy projects which may lead to the country’s elimination, and seek to convert Ukraine into a nuclear dumping ground. The European Greens are in favour of clean and renewable energy and sustainable development.