Publication Laka-library:
Facts could not be beaten: Report on public hearings on K2/R4 project in Ukraine
| Author | Bankwatch |
| Date | June 2000 |
| Classification | 2.41.8.20/10 (UKRAINE - K2/R4) |
| Front | 
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From the publication:
FACTS COULD NOT BE BEATEN: Report on public hearings on K2/R4 project in Ukraine Executive Summary In 1998 the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministries approved the Rule (1) to conduct public hearings on the use of nuclear energy. The Rule describes the mechanism to implement the right of Ukrainian citizens to participate in the decision making and development of the policy in the sphere of nuclear energy use and radiation security (2). Since than public hearings on energy policy issues were held in 11 cities of Ukraine (3). It is up to citizens and public organization to initiate the hearings, but it is theresponsibility of local administrations to conduct the meetings. However, at numerous occasions authorities were defensive and prevented the hearings from happening. In particular, in Kyiv, Dubno, Khmelnytsky, Zaporizhzhia, Vinnitsa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zhytomyr authorities are preventing citizens from realization of their legal rights. Citizens through Ukraine have called for the hearings because of the plans of Ukrainian government to complete two nuclear reactors in Khmelnitsky and Rivne nuclear power plants (project known as K2R4). The project has been shown to be uneconomic and unsafe. Moreover, Ukraine does not need to build new power plants since the country's installed capacity is twice as much as peak demand. Thus, it will make more sense to make existing capacities work. The meetings held were constructive rather than emotional. There are a number of common conclusions drawn up at the hearings: limited information released to the public by the authorities as to the problems of energy sector and the sources of these problems, inability to resolve problems of Ukrainian energy sector by developing nuclear industry since it creates new problems for the country, the government should avoid big projects as K2R4 and concentrate on energy efficiency and development of the renewable sources, Ukraine has significant knowledge and expertise for development of realistic projects on energy saving and alternative energy sources. The government keeps ignoring the documents of public hearings not replying to the letters sent or sending absolutely formal answers. This behavior gives public groups cause to start a court-case arguing infringement by the Ukrainian government of the citizens' Constitutional rights, in particular, their right to request information and to get answers. The conclusion of the public hearings, run within Ukrainian legislation, are similar to those run by Energoatom on request of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The EBRD is considering giving a loan to Energoatom for the K2R4 completion and public consultations are part of the bank's procedures. Even at the meeting in Netishyn, hometown of nuclear workers, not a single person spoke in favor of the project.
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