Victor Yushchenko has opened a meeting to develop special metallurgy in Sumy, president's press office reports.

In his speech, the President said the meeting was aimed at formulating proposals on which his decree to develop atomic energy would be based. He said the development of nuclear energy was linked not only to the country’s energy and economic security but also was an element of its political stability.

Mr. Yushchenko said our factories that enrich uranium failed to satisfy Ukraine’s needs, which makes the government pay “monopolistic prices” for uranium on the international market. Thus Ukraine would be able to save up to USD 150 mln if it started developing this industry, he said. He reminded those present that Ukraine had the world’s richest deposits of uranium ore but complained there were only two factories producing it and one company to enrich it. He is, however, convinced Ukraine is capable of producing up to three thousand tons of uranium annually.

He also said the zirconium industry would be growing and so a factory to produce it would bring huge profits soon.  

“Thus this factory would be able to satisfy the nation’s needs but would also represent Ukraine worthily on the global market,” he said.

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