|
Ukraine meets conditions for K2R4-loans
EU/Euratom and EBRD ready to start disbursement
With the establishment of a Decommissioning Fund, Ukraine has met the last
outstanding condition for the disbursement of loans from the European Atomic
Energy Community (Euratom) and the EBRD in context with the safety upgrade for
unit 2 of Khemelnitsky and unit 4 of Rovno nuclear power plants (K2R4). On
behalf of Euratom, the European Commission, is providing $83 million to
Ukraine’s Energoatom, the state-owned nuclear power generator, while the
EBRD’s loan is worth $42 million.
The programme for the safety upgrade of K2R4 was developed by Ukrainian and
Western experts and comprises 147 measures. Of them, 77 were completed before
the commissioning of the two units, while the remaining 70 will be completed,
financed by the two loans, by end-2007.
In addition, Ukraine has also achieved significant progress in enhancing
nuclear safety on a broader level: the independency and efficiency of the
nuclear regulatory authority has been strengthened, all first generation
Soviet designed reactors at Chernobyl have been shut down, and a modernisation
programme for all nuclear power plants in Ukraine currently being implemented
will upgrade all 13 nuclear reactors to internationally recognised nuclear
safety level by 2010.
The European Commission and the EBRD recognise the substantial efforts
undertaken by Ukraine and welcome the consistent and successful implementation
of the internationally agreed measures.
|
