Accounts of Ukraine`s Energoatom unlocked — Energy Minister

Wednesday, June 29, 2016 - 14:52 (EEST) Section: Latest news

The accounts of National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom, blocked due to unlawful attempts of Ukrelektrovat to recover doubtful debt, have been unlocked again, Ukrainian Energy Minister Ihor Nasalyk wrote on Facebook.
”Finally, we have succeeded in unlocking accounts of NNEGC Energoatom (thanks to the Prime Minister), which has made it possible to stabilize operations,” Nasalyk wrote.
The minister further informed that during a trip to the United States (on June 14-17) he and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman signed an agreement worth $260 million to support the construction of spent nuclear fuel dry storage facility.
As UNIAN reported earlier, in March of this year, the enforcement service seized Energoatom`s accounts and property for a total amount of UAH 200 billion, thereby blocking the operations of the country`s largest power generating company. In this respect, the company had no possibility to make payments. The situation occurred after JSC Joint Venture Ukrelektrovat had attempted to recover UAH 127.3 million in doubtful debt allegedly owed by Energoatom.
In early March, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko vetoed law of Ukraine No. 3097 on amendments to some laws of Ukraine concerning ensuring settlements in the energy sector with regard to State Enterprise National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom. This prompted unscrupulous lenders that gained support of law enforcement officers to seek the disruption of the company`s activities.
On May 25, Head of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine Serhiy Bozhko described the situation with the blocking of Energoatom`s accounts as the act of sabotage. He stressed that according to the law, Energoatom was tasked with ensuring the maintenance and safety of nuclear power plant operations. Bozhko said the nuclear energy regulator would have made a decision to shut down power units if the blocking of the company`s accounts had affected the performance of its functions.
UNIAN memo. Energoatom is Ukraine`s largest electricity producer, accounting for about 50% of the country`s overall power output. Energoatom is responsible for the safe operation of all nuclear power plants in the country.