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#Ukraine energy minister 'manipulating sell-out of Ukraine’s nuclear power sector to Russia'

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Ukraine Energy and Coal Industry Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn (pictured), has been accused of trying to transfer the interests of the state-owned nuclear power generating company Energoatom to a Russian businessman Konstantin Grigorishin, writes James Wilson.

Leaking information on his Facebook page, according to the Ukrainian news portal Unian, the Ukrainian MP Ihor Lutsenko claimed that: "Demchyshyn is seeking the resignation of Energoatom President Yuriy Nedashkovsky.”

According to reliable sources, Demchyshyn and Nedashkovsky often clash on the management of Ukraine's nuclear industry, due to disagreements on how the energy market functions. Demchyshyn is an investment banker by way of background, whereas Nedashkovsky is a distinguished scientist and energy expert.

In particular Nedashkovsky has been championing the reform and upgrading of Energoatom’s operations, diversifying procurement, appointing new Western suppliers and weaning the company off its historical ties with Russian monopoly suppliers. Under his leadership Energoatom has placed several important contracts with Western companies such as Holtec International and Westinghouse, integrating Energoatom’s operations into the EU Energy market.

But this latest clash reveals that Demchyshyn’s political manoeuvres are nothing more than a thinly disguised plot to roll back Energoatom’s reforms and destroy the euro-atlantic strategic direction that has been crafted by Nedashkovsky.

Energoatom is Ukraine's largest electricity producer, accounting for about 65% of the country's overall power output. Energoatom is responsible for the safe operation of all nuclear power plants in the country, and is a leading company progressing Ukraine’s economic integration with the European Union in the Energy Sector.

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It is a highly strategic asset for Ukraine, and by seeking to manipulate control over the company and change its orientation from West to East, Demchyshyn is seeking to hand to Russia on an economic plate what their army is failing to achieve on the battlefield. This is in direct contradiction to Ukraine’s stated euro-atlantic aspirations.

James Wilson 
Director, EU Ukraine Business Council

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