Ivan Plyushch, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, has welcomed a new plan on nuclear energy and non-proliferation proposed by the United States and Russia, according to the President`s press-office. He believes it will give Ukraine, which has always adhered to its obligations to destroy nuclear weapons, more opportunities to develop nuclear energy and enhance nuclear security.
Plyushch said his country planned to double production of electricity at its power plants by 2030 and was thus going to build new and renew old plants, diversify energy supplies and produce own nuclear fuel to be less dependent on energy imports.
“Nuclear energy is a strategic technology of the future. Both Europe and the United States have realized that this is the cheapest and safest way to produce energy.”
“Having research and production facilities, nuclear infrastructure and deposits of uranium ore, Ukraine simply must produce its own nuclear fuel and achieve energy self-sufficiency. In this area, I see the United States, France and Russia as our key partners,” he said.
Plyushch thinks the “consistent implementation” of the Ukrainian Energy Strategy will help resolve problems and correct mistakes in the national nuclear sector, particularly those made by the government when creating Ukratomprom. He said President Yushchenko had issued a decree on August 13 to suspend a governmental resolution to establish this state-owned company.
