USA TO GIVE $850,000 FOR UKRAINE’S ENERGY SECTOR

“ I am very glad to declare that the Energy Department I head and the US International Development Agency have decided to give Ukraine $850,000 to help improve its energy sector efficiency,” US Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson stated last weekend while visiting Kyiv.

The US dignitary arrived in Ukraine at President Clinton’s and Vice President Albert Gore’s special request. Mr. Richardson said he became well aware during his visit of the hardships facing Ukraine in terms of nuclear safety. On his return Mr. Richardson assured his hosts that he would tell President Clinton Ukraine is making headway. He must have arrived at this conclusion after learning about the Cabinet’s privatization plans in the oil and gas sector and after hearing President Kuchma promise that Ukraine would close the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant in 2000.

Among other news pleasing to the American guest was that Ukraine has allocated $7.5 million in the state budget to replace the boiler house on the Chornobyl grounds. The American side is allocating $22.5 million for the same purpose. Also, a member of the US delegation said that his country, jointly with the Ukrainian Energy Ministry, is working on a project “to develop generating capacity and improve nuclear fuel in Ukraine.” This will help Ukraine become independent of foreign nuclear fuel supplies. US Ambassador Steven Pifer noted that “if Ukraine has more than one nuclear fuel supplier, the fuel’s price will be considerably lower.” (At present, Russia is Ukraine’s sole nuclear fuel supplier).

Another important event (so Washington believes) is the Second Conference on Construction of the Containment Vessel to be held by Ukraine and Germany in Berlin this May. Mr. Richardson pointed out that the construction project calls for $700 million and the United States is prepared to contribute substantially.

Also, the United States (Mr. Richardson said his country is Ukraine’s friend, partner, and world neighbor) is preparing to cooperate with Kyiv in yet another domain. The American guest said US experts are carefully studying the Odesa- Brody oil pipeline project.

The US Secretary of Energy is convinced that much depends on Ukraine in making Ukrainian aid projects a reality. Their effective implementation will not only boost the Ukrainian energy industry but also help Ukraine receive an $18 million World Bank credit.