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Thursday's decision to suspend operation of a Soviet-era nuclear unit in Ukraine should lead to its retirement

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.

Ukraine's Other Chernobyls

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For safety reasons, Europe must help the Ukrainian government retire, not revive, its nuclear reactors. (This commentary originally appeared on Project Syndicate.)


Discovering Ukraine's Nuclear Shadows

- 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.


29 de ani de la dezastrul nuclear din Cernobîl

Source: Laurenţiu Diaconu-Colintineanu, RFI Romania

În Ucraina, la Cernobîl, în urmă cu 29 de ani se producea cel mai grav accident nuclear din istorie. Explozia reactorului 4 din centrala nucleară de la Cernobîl a degajat un nor radioactiv care a acoperit toată Europa. Însă Ucraina este o țară cu 15 reactoare nucleare, iar incidente s-au inregistrat și la alte centrale. Ascultați un reportaj realizat în Ucraina, de Laurențiu Colintineanu.

Letter: EBRD and EURATOM support for life-time extension of Ukraine's nuclear reactors is in breach of international law

In this letter 46 non-governmental organisations alarm European Union representatives involved in the decision-making at the EBRD and Euratom to the fact that Ukraine is pressing ahead with its plans to extend the life-time of its old nuclear reactors even though they are in breach of international law (Espoo Convention) and without proper impact assessments and despite UKraine's obligations under the loans provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Euratom.

Local initiatives champion sustainability and resilience in central and eastern Europe

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A new website with inspiring stories of local sustainable initiatives shows the very real change that small-scale projects can make for local communities.


Slovak NGOs ask for re-evaluation of nuclear programme in Ukraine

Source: Spectator staff, The Slovak Spectator

UKRAINE is prolonging the lifespan of its 15 nuclear reactors from the Soviet era without a public environmental impact assessment (EIA) – thereby violating international law.

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

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

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.

The dash for gas in Ukraine - current trends in the production of unconventional reserves

This study assesses the potential for the use of hydraulic fracturing in Ukraine, looking into potential impacts and costs as well as putting together the country's experiences with the technology to date. The report highlights the fact that Ukrainian companies have used hydraulic fracturing before the shale gas boom with at least two dozens of companies involved in the drilling. (In Ukraine, no specific rules or laws exist that would regulate the use of this hydraulic fracturing. The activities of relevant companies are governed by laws applicable to conventional oil and gas production.)

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