Ukraine endorses nuclear fuel program

She says in 2009 - 2013 it is planned to build on the basis of the Novokostiantyniv deposit a hydrometallurgical plant for the processing of uranium ore with a waste storage, launch the production of fuel assemblies, and create a full cycle of zirconium production, including production of tubular steel.

In April 2008, the government set up the Nuclear Fuel concern based on the Eastern ore mining and dressing plant, the Novokostiantyniv uranium mine, state-run company Smoly, the Dnipropetrovsk works of precision pipes, and the Ukrainian scientific research, design and exploration institute of industrial technologies.

The main objective of the Nuclear Fuel of Ukraine concern is to provide nuclear power plants with the raw material. President Viktor Yushchenko early last year signed the decree giving effect to the February 1, 2008 decision by the National Security and Defense Council on the safety of the state nuclear power industry.

By its decision, the Security Council called the functioning system of management in the field of the use of nuclear energy, regulation of the issues of nuclear and radiation safety as going in conflict with the guidelines of the state policy of national security concerning creation of favorable conditions for permanent economic growth, and said it needed optimization.