Energoatom president declares nuclear 'safe and reliable'

The boss of Ukrainian energy giant Energoatom says that nuclear has a "key" role to play in meeting Europe's future energy needs. Speaking in Brussels, company President Yuriy Nedashkovskiy said nuclear was a "safe and reliable" energy source.

He also believes nuclear can help tackle climate change and contribute towards meeting EU targets on CO2 emission reductions.

He said: " We are fully committed to reducing emissions and in Ukraine alone, we have acheived a two-fold reduction in CO2 emissions since 1990."

His comments come in the wake of a newly-adopted energy package by the European Commission which sets greenhouse gas reduction objectives for 2030 and the recently agreed gas supply deal between Ukraine and the EU.

Nedashkovskiy, who was speaking at the opening of Energoatom's new Representative Office in Brussels, also said he had "absolute confidence" in the safety of the nuclear power industry.

His company is one of Europe´s main nuclear providers, producing almost 50% of Ukraine’s domestic electricity and operating four nuclear power plants in the country.

Nuclear generates half of Ukraine´s electricity, rising to as much as 60 per cent at some intervals.

Ukraine has 15 nuclear power reactors at four sites (Khmelnitsky, Rovno, South Ukraine and Zaporozhe), all operated by Energoatom. All the units are Russian VVER types.

The role of nuclear energy has recently returned to the spotlight after the UK was given the go-ahead for a new nuclear power plant last month.

After the Fukushima disaster in 2011 some countries reduced their reliance on nuclear plants but half of 28 member states still have nuclear power plants,producing 14 percent of the energy consumed in the EU.

Member states are trying to cut emissions of CO2 gases to prevent global warming to exceed 2 degrees Celsius and nuclear energy might help some countries to reach the new EU target, said Nedashkovskiy, adding that nuclear hardly emits greenhouse gases.

In an interview, Nedashkovskiy also welcomed the recently agreed Association Agreement with the EU which, he said, would help pave the way for closer integration with the bloc.

He added: "This agreement is significant and will define new relations between the EU and Ukraine. It is a strategic landmark for the Ukraine energy sector which, step by step, is becoming more integrated with the European sector."

He said the new Brussels office "marked an important step in the integration of Energoatom’s strategies" with European energy policy.

“Our company produces almost 50% of Ukraine’s domestic electricity. And we face an important task in meeting the needs of households and businesses this winter to maintain stable energy supplies," he said.

His comments were echoed by Andrii Tirurin, who will head the Representative Office and who said, "One of the key tasks of the new Office will be to co-ordinate representation with European industry and international energy sector organizations.

"Energoatom wishes to adopt the highest standards of governance in accordance with European and International norms. It will be an important objective for me to follow public policy and regulatory developments in the EU in respect of energy and climate change, and to assist Energoatom to make a constructive contribution to the European debate."

He also welcomed the association agreement, saying it offered a "clear signal" of the company´s intentions to develop "more transparent and better relations" with its EU partners.

Meanwhile, Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has instructed the company, the national operator of nuclear power plants, to speed up completion of power generating units and to reorient cooperation from Russia to the EU.

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