A text amendment was distributed to the MPs, allowing the government and “Energoatom” to purchase two Russian-made nuclear reactors for the completion of the Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant, Yuriy Nikolov informs.
These reactors were previously sold by Russia to Bulgaria for $600 million. However, back in 2012, the Bulgarians woke up and decided not to build the nuclear plant, which would have operated on Russian fuel, thus continuing their dependence on the Kremlin. So, these reactors were left with the Bulgarians, who were spending money on their security with no prospects of selling them. In fact, they would have to pay us to take them away.
But our wonderful nuclear officials are negotiating with them for the purchase of these reactors for at least $600 million, and likely more, as the sellers are already conducting an appraisal. From which it will be very easy to carve out a margin and convert it into a 50-50 split.
And the next day, headlines in the “Wall Street Journal” and “Financial Times” would say that Ukraine, just before Trump enters the White House, purchased not American reactors, but Russian ones. And not for pennies, but for an amount sufficient to buy weapons for several new brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This would go over really well with the Republicans. It would be less painful for Ukrainian corrupt officials to stick a bayonet in their behinds than to face this.
And yes. At this time, Zelensky gave Trump his answer, saying he would not lower the conscription age for Ukrainians to 18 because the Armed Forces need weapons more than people. And the West isn’t providing them much.
After the adoption of this bill, which will cost us $600 million (25 billion hryvnias at the current exchange rate), the next step will be to pass a law permitting the completion of the abandoned reactors at the Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant. Then, billions will be siphoned off for the Big Nuclear Construction project over the next seven to eight years because nuclear construction is inherently long due to the technological complexity of the processes.
I believe that after the vote for the purchase of these Russian reactors, no one in Parliament will oppose construction anymore. This is complete nonsense. Buying reactors for half a billion dollars, only for them to continue lying around here?
In short, if you didn’t know, I’ll remind you. This summer, the authorities raised electricity tariffs for Ukrainians by almost double. According to conservative estimates, Energoatom is expected to accumulate 20-30 billion hryvnias just for the second half of 2024. These funds will be conveniently funneled abroad. And every month, we continue to pay for energy, which will be used to concrete over the Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant.
