Energy issues rise to prominence after U.S. president's trip to Kyiv

KYIV - "The third reactor of the Chornobyl AES will be shut down even if the G-7 countries do not allocate the funds needed for implementation of the Shelter Project" said President Leonid Kuchma after meeting with U.S. President Bill Clinton on June 5. "As president, I have responsibility for my words. It will be done as I said," he stressed.

About $90-100 million will be needed per year to purchase alternate fuel including gas due to the closure of Chornobyl, said Prime Minister Viktor Yuschenko. He added that during the talks with President Clinton an understanding on the issue of compensating capacities at the Rivne and Khmelnytskiy stations was reached. He added this was in response to the Ukrainian decision to shut down Chornobyl's unit 3, which currently generates about 6 percent of the nation's electricity. Mr. Yuschenko added that if funding is provided on time the compensating capacity can be built in eight to nine months.

President Kuchma also stated that despite criticism of Vice Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, Mr. Yuschenko is not considering her dismissal. Mr. Kuchma added he will follow the Constitution, which entitles only the prime minister to make this type of decision. Mr. Yuschenko stated that he is not going to dismiss Ms. Tymoshenko, and that professional qualities and not political motives are the main factors in making decisions about cabinets appointees.

However, if the situation in the fuel and energy sector grows worse the Council for National Security and Defense will become involved in staff decisions said Mr. Kuchma. The Council for National Security and Defense and its administration will increase their control over the implementation of presidential decrees and orders in the energy sector said Yevhen Marchuk, chair of the council. Mr. Marchuk stated in May that the energy system was on the verge of collapse three times and in April and May, five nuclear reactor reactors did not function for a variety of reasons. The debt to Russian gas suppliers grew by $100 million (U.S.) as a result of siphoning of over 1 billion cubic meters of Russian gas that was to be delivered to Europe. Mr. Marchuk previously submitted a complaint to the president accusing Mr. Yuschenko of de-stabilizing the situation in the fuel and energy sector.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 18, 2000, No. 25, Vol. LXVIII

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