Incompetence of officials, lack of appropriate equipment and corruption risks inherent in the Law "On Integrated Prevention and Control of Industrial Pollution" can kill Ukrainian industry instead of modernizing it.
Ludmila Tsyganok, President of the Association of Environmental Professionals (PAEW), told more about this in a comment for EcoPolitic.
Representing the Association, she urged statesmen to hear about the risks that industry experts emphasize and try to avoid them.
"Because this is their direct task – to be responsible for the results of the reforms," she emphasized.
Lyudmila Tsyganok named the following among the factors that will make it impossible to carry out the reform of industrial pollution in Ukraine, as well as the implementation of BAT by domestic enterprises:
- Implementation of reforms in the field of environment by people who are not involved in production and are not able to predict the long-term impact.
Therefore, the specialist expressed her wish that all reforms be discussed, that there be a real dialogue with players in various spheres and industries.
"Otherwise, no matter how hard they try, it will look like a beautiful wrapper for internationalists, and not for long, but the impact on the economy will be catastrophic. And the environment will not benefit from this in any way, as we can already see from the results of the waste management reform," she said.
- Lack of production of equipment in Ukraine, with the help of which production processes will be modernized at existing enterprises.
PAEW notes that in fact, Ukrainian manufacturers are forced to import all equipment, and in most cases it is an individual order with the manufacturers of this equipment, as well as drawings, funds and time. In addition, they reminded about the need to develop a feasibility study, RP and all project documentation before carrying out modernization, which actually costs millions.
Lyudmila Tsyganok also expressed fears that the obligations regarding customs relief for equipment may be implemented very, very soon and cited the example of energy equipment, the government made a decision to exempt it from customs duty only 1.5 years after the blackout.
- Corruption risks associated with granting concessions to industrial enterprises regarding the implementation of BAT.
PAEW experts warned that the concession would become subject to bargaining and create additional corruption risks.
"That's why the initiators of the reform talk so much about these retreats, that's why various public activists loyal to the current government shout about these retreats. And the question, if this is a pro-state position, then it is necessary to minimize all the risks of corruption schemes already at this stage, because otherwise there will be no reform either", – warned the president of the Association.
We will remind, July 16 Verkhovna Rada approved draft Law No. 11355 "On integrated prevention and control of industrial pollution". 256 people's representatives voted "for".
Earlier, on July 3, EcoPolitic reported that the ecocommittee agreed draft law No. 11355 on industrial pollution to the second reading. He became the "heir" of the European integration project of Law No. 6004-d, one of a number of projects under No. 6004, which lawmakers began working on as far back as 2021.
Even earlier, on June 20, Parliament passed based on the draft Law "On Integrated Prevention and Control of Industrial Pollution" No. 11355. It turned out to be practically identical to the European integration draft law No. 6004-d "On ensuring the constitutional rights of citizens to an environment safe for life and health", for the adoption of which the people's elected representatives lacked only one (!) vote on June 19.
