OREANDA-NEWS. On April 19, 2007 TVEL Vice President Vasily Konstantinov told the Ukrainian journalists about the basic stages of the nuclear fuel cycle, the key spheres of the Russian-Ukrainian nuclear energy cooperation - from uranium extraction to fuel production, reported the press-centre of TVEL. During the subsequent briefing the executive director for scientific-technical cooperation Vladimir Molchanov said that the countries should develop their cooperation in the sphere, particularly, in the production of fuel for the Ukrainian NPPs. Konstantinov pointed out that the many-year cooperation between Russian and Ukrainian nuclear power engineers can be a good basis for effective partnership between Russian and Ukrainian companies.


All Ukrainian NPPs are fueled by TVEL under its long-term contract with Energoatom (Ukraine). Almost all local WWER-1000 reactors work on improved TBCA fuel. TVEL and Energoatom also cooperate on the use of Ukrainian uranium and zirconium for fuel production and safety enhancement and capacity control measures. Presently, TVEL and Energoatom are enlarging their cooperation on TBCA WWE-1000 production. The companies have agreed to establish a relevant enterprise in Ukraine. TVEL has drafted the contract. Ukraine will supply zirconium concentrate and zirconium tetrafluoride and in the future may take part in the production of fuel rods and TBC elements.


Ukraine has a big raw material base (Volnogorsk Mining Factory) and developed production of nuclear quality zirconium (Zirconium company). Besides, the country has uranium deposits, nuclear plant building complex, research and development institutes. This all can serve as a good basis for effective nuclear energy cooperation. During the tour the Ukrainian journalists have visited Elemash and Kurchatov Institute.