nuclear-news

From Bankwatch.org:

“STOP UKRAINE’S ZOMBIE REACTORS

Right at Europe’s doorstep, Ukraine is extending the lifetimes of its soviet-era nuclear reactors – ignoring risks, neighbouring countries and international law. This is about nuclear safety in Europe. Find out what you can do.

THE PROBLEM

Ukraine operates 15 nuclear reactors from the Soviet era and is planning to extend their life by up to 20 years. This year it should decide about 2 reactors – unit 2 at the South Ukraine plant and unit 1 at Zaporizhia. The life-time extensions are done without a proper safety-review, environmental impact assessment and public consultations and without considering sustainable alternatives.

International law (codified in the Espoo convention) obligates Ukraine to consult neighbouring countries and their citizens on the lifetime extensions. Five neighbouring countries have requested information and involvement, but Ukraine’s government is still ignoring them.

The lifetime extensions are perpetuating Ukraine’s dependency on Russia:…