Ukraine needs a roadmap for the ecological modernization of industry
"For exceeding emission standards, one can introduce not draconian, but adequate fines," Starovoyt believes
Billions are needed for the eco-modernization of industrial enterprises, and it is unrealistic to carry it out in 4 years, as stipulated in the draft law on emissions. Otherwise, Ukraine risks losing the coke-chemical industry, and after it, the metallurgical industry. This was stated by Anatoliy Starovoyt, General Director of UNVA "Ukrcoke".
"These are colossal costs. For example, a Kosovo battery costs somewhere around 400-plus million dollars. Its standard service life is 30 years. It has worked for 10 years. How is this envisioned? To demolish it and build a new one? Billions of dollars are needed. Some kind of roadmap for a gradual transition is needed," Starovoyt said.
He emphasized: if the draft law on industrial emissions is adopted in its current form, the coke-chemical industry, and after it, related industries, will be seriously affected.
"This (the closure of coke-chemical enterprises - Ed.) immediately entails blast furnace production, pig iron smelting. Pig iron smelting entails steel smelting. And steel smelting entails rolled product production. And so on," Starovoyt explained.
In his opinion, the draft law needs refinement, at least in terms of implementation deadlines and the size of fines for exceeding emission standards.
"For now, for exceeding emission standards, one can introduce not draconian, but some adequate fines that will go towards environmental needs. One should approach this reasonably," Starovoyt believes.
Earlier, the president of the Union of Chemists, Oleksiy Golubov, stated that the adoption of the draft law on reducing industrial emissions in the form proposed by the government would kill the industry, as enterprises do not have billions for eco-modernization and need state support.
It should be recalled that earlier the European Business Association (EBA) called on the Verkhovna Rada to finalize draft law No. 4167, as its implementation would cost at least $10 billion. In addition, the possibility for the permitting authority (Ministry of Environment) to independently suspend or annul an integrated permit without a court decision creates favorable conditions for corruption.
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