The revised draft law, which will initiate the completion of two energy units at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant, has addressed all the concerns and contradictions raised by deputies regarding the initial version, according to Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.
"We have amended the draft law. It has passed through the energy committee. I believe that its version alleviates all, let's say, anxieties. Now the question is whether parliament will vote or not. And this is a question of whether Ukraine needs generation, or if we will live in electricity deficit. That's all," the minister said in a brief interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency, responding to a question about how he plans to continue working with parliament to advance the construction of units 3 and 4 of the Khmelnytskyi NPP.
According to him, Bulgaria is unlikely to extend Ukraine's permit to purchase reactor installations, which expires on March 11, if the law is not voted on.
"Unfortunately, there is a different coalition in parliament today, and there is a pro-Russian narrative. One of the demands, as I understand, was that they do not extend this permit. Therefore, everything is now in the hands of the Ukrainian parliament. If they pass the law, we will have two plus GW of generation. If they do not pass it, we will not," Halushchenko emphasized.
He added that recently there have been many manipulations surrounding this law.
"But my only interest is to ensure that there is no electricity deficit in the state. When these units are launched, most likely, I won't be the one to cut the red ribbon. But the question is not about me, but about what the state needs. If a resolution is registered in the Rada regarding my dismissal with the explanation 'for favoritism towards nuclear energy,' yes, it is written that way, then I take pride in it. Because the whole world is moving in this direction," the minister noted.
As reported, during a speech in parliament in January, Minister of Energy Herman Halushchenko stated that Ukraine had already spent about $2.5 billion on units 3 and 4 of the Khmelnytskyi NPP in the 1990s.
During an urgent meeting on January 16, the Verkhovna Rada's Committee on Energy and Housing Utilities supported a draft law that, among other things, grants NAEC "Energoatom" permission to acquire equipment from Bulgaria necessary for the construction of units 3 and 4 of the Khmelnytskyi NPP.
To this end, the energy committee proposed that the Rada vote on draft law No. 11392 from July 2, 2024, but with significant amendments. This draft law, authored by the head of the energy committee Andriy Gerus, provided for amendments to laws concerning the electricity market, particularly regarding simplifying connections to networks. By the second reading, 266 amendments had been submitted, some of which were already accepted during the voting on draft law No. 9381 in its entirety on January 14.
The committee proposed to annul all these amendments, as well as the text of the draft law, and submitted new ones concerning units 3 and 4 of the Khmelnytskyi NPP.
However, the draft law was not reviewed on the last session day of January.
According to the technical and economic justification "Construction of Energy Units No. 3 and 4 of the Khmelnytskyi NPP," approved by the Cabinet of Ministers' order No. 579-r dated July 26, 2018, the total estimated cost of construction at prices as of May 5, 2017, including construction works, equipment, furniture, and inventory, as well as other expenses, amounts to UAH 72.34 billion. Additionally, the cost of the first loading of nuclear fuel is UAH 4.47 billion.
At least EUR 600 million is needed to purchase equipment in Bulgaria. Government draft law No. 11146 from April 3, 2024, concerning the completion of units 3 and 4 of the Khmelnytskyi NPP has been repeatedly removed from parliamentary consideration due to a lack of votes. One of the arguments against it was the use of "Rosatom" equipment as a representative of an aggressor country, concerns about its quality, and the obsolescence of the technology. Without the law, it is impossible to carry out the construction of such units.