China shows interest in Ukraine’s nuclear energy

"The Memorandum provides for the analysis of potential cooperation areas, in particular, exploration and development of uranium deposits, mining and processing of uranium ore, modernization of existing mines and hydrometallurgical plant, introduction of CNEIC technologies in the field of nuclear fuel cycle, cooperation in the development and introduction of new technologies in zirconium production, attraction of investments for the development of Ukrainian nuclear fuel cycle," the company’s statement reads.

The company notes that within the framework of this Memorandum a working meeting of Ukrainian and Chinese experts will be held soon, during which the Chinese side will learn about the operation of the enterprises of Ukraine's nuclear-industrial complex.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the American company ConverDyn is studying the possibility to set up the production of uranium hexafluoride in Ukraine, comprising a part of the nuclear fuel cycle. 

UNIAN’s memo. Currently, over 95% of nuclear fuel for Ukrainian nuclear power plants is being imported from Russia. Russia also has a monopoly position regarding uranium enrichment for Ukraine.

Seeking to diversify energy supply sources, Ukraine has been implementing a program of introducing at the nuclear power facilities with WWER reactors the nuclear fuel produced by the US-based Westinghouse.

In addition, this spring, the state company Energoatom, the operator of all nuclear power plants operating in Ukraine, signed a contract for supplies of enriched uranium with the French energy company AREVA, as a next step in diversifying supplies of nuclear materials for the country`s nuclear power plants.

Uranium hexafluoride is widely used in uranium enrichment. 

Presently, Ukraine only mines uranium and sends it for further processing to Russia.