The Verkhovna Rada has adopted a draft law on nuclear safety as whole, thereby allowing National Nuclear Energy Generating Company “Energoatom” to attract a EUR 200 million loan.

The Parliament approved in the second reading and as whole, draft law №2373 “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Safety of Nuclear Energy Use”.

"With the adoption of the Law, Ukraine has fulfilled its international obligations to comply with the principle of independence of the state regulatory body for nuclear and radiation safety," said the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.

Ensuring the independence of Ukraine's nuclear regulator is one of the conditions of the Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Energy Partnership between Ukraine and the EU, as well as one of the conditions of the Guarantee Agreement between Ukraine as a guarantor and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) as a creditor to disburse a loan to NNEGC “Energoatom” for the implementation of the Comprehensive Program for Improving the Safety of Nuclear Power Plants.

Restoring the independent status of the regulator will in fact restore Ukraine's ability to comply with international regimes and safety standards (IAEA) and the European law in terms of state regulation of nuclear and radiation safety.

As a result, Ukraine regains the status of a state responsible for nuclear safety, while NNEGC “Energoatom” is given the opportunity to continue using the EURATOM loan in the amount of EUR 200 million.

In order to further improve nuclear safety, ensure efficient and reliable operation of the energy sector, bring the safety of Ukraine's nuclear power plants to the best European standards and requirements for nuclear safety and environmental protection, NNEGC “Energoatom” is implementing a Comprehensive Program to improve the safety of nuclear power plants.

The program was developed by Energoatom taking into account the recommendations of the joint project of the European Commission, IAEA and Ukraine on improving safety and was approved by a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

To ensure the implementation of the project, Energoatom attracted the largest loan from the European institutions in the history of the energy sector of Ukraine – EUR 600 million (the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom).