Kharkov: Without gas and medicines
In the context of the energy crisis, the Ukrainian leadership is frantically looking for replacements for Russian suppliers of parts and fuel. It is already clear that there will be no shale gas in the next couple of years. But how they waited for it, this shale gas!
Kharkov mayor Gennady Kernes in January 2013 told Arsen Avakov, then an active oppositionist, this (paraphrasing, by the way, the words of Stolypin): “You are investigating the non-traditional sexual relationships of your party colleagues - Avakov and Kirsh. Consider this. And we, sensible people, will engage in unconventional gas production.”
In general, there is gas in the Kharkov region, and not only shale gas. And, according to the authorities, there is more than enough for the region’s domestic consumption. Part of it, however, still goes to the left: the other day the prosecutor’s office of the Kharkov region revealed facts of illegal gas production worth more than 240 million UAH. However, the general procedure is as follows: local fuel, as various Kharkov governors noted in different years, is added to the “all-Ukrainian common fund”, and then used according to a decision from Kyiv. Therefore, the situation is as follows: gas seems to be being produced, but today the batteries in Kharkov are cold, CHPP-5 is idle. And in the agreements with Russia, things are still there...
As for nuclear energy, we note that there has already been an attempt to supply nuclear fuel for Ukrainian nuclear power plants from the United States. In the recent past, this brought the Ukrainian nuclear power plant to the brink of an environmental disaster due to the fact that such “feeding” was not suitable for the reactor. But, as they say, the lesson is not for the future, and it seems that the Chernobyl experience in Kyiv wants to quickly be forgotten. We still rely on our overseas partners.
The American-Japanese company Westinghouse again plans to supply nuclear fuel for Ukrainian nuclear power plants and reports that it may take part in the completion of the 3rd and 4th power units of the Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant.
Kharkov production associations "Turboatom" and SE "Plant "Electrotyazhmash" can produce equipment for Ukrainian nuclear power plants, which was previously produced in Russia. Turboatom is also ready to supply capacitors for the South Ukrainian and Zaporozhye nuclear power plants, and in the future for the Rivne station, as well as to begin production of working blades made of titanium alloy and other spare parts for turbines of operating power units of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. Turboatom is also ready to consider the issues of modernizing the flow part of the turbines of the South Ukrainian and Zaporozhye nuclear power plants with increasing efficiency, power and reliability.
Such a desire to participate in a project, work and earn money is quite natural for Kharkov enterprises, but there may not be results on a nationwide scale. After all, this equipment, together with substandard overseas fuel, creates a dangerous combination.
And, by the way, Kharkov residents will not only have to freeze this winter, but also get sick. The problem is not only with gas and nuclear energy. The supply of a number of drugs to Kharkov for vaccination of children as part of the state program has been stopped. In 2014, the city experienced an unfavorable situation with vaccinations against measles and viral hepatitis.
And in this case, you can’t put the blame on Russia, just like Europe and America. While all the cardinal issues of life in the region are being resolved in Kyiv, apparently, there will be no vaccines, no gas, no safe fuel for Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
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