Ukraine plans to launch the production of nuclear fuel and elements (rods) containing nuclear fuel in 2020, aiming to provide Ukrainian nuclear reactors with fuel of own production and reduce imports.
This is stated in the concept of the development of the nuclear industrial complex until 2020, which was previously adopted at a Cabinet meeting. In 2020, Ukraine plans to produce 630 rods containing Ukrainian-made nuclear fuel, the document said.
To achieve this goal, the production of uranium concentrate is to be boosted along with the launch of the production of zirconium rolled stock and fuel rods.
”To create nuclear fuel production facilities [Ukraine] should acquire technology and equipment,… build a plant to produce fuel assemblies [which will contain fuel elements], develop a plan of measures for the use of Ukrainian-produced nuclear fuel at nuclear power plants and approve it with the consumer of the nuclear fuel, namely state-owned Energoatom,” the document said.
To increase the production of uranium ore for nuclear fuel, Ukraine will develop new uranium ore deposits – Kvitneve and Safonivske, in addition to the existing one, Novokostiantynivske, in Dnipropetrovsk region.
The total amount of funds required for the launch of the production of zirconium alloys and materials, as well as the final product – nuclear fuel – before 2020 is estimated at UAH 1.1 billion, or about $43 million.
A target program should be adopted on the basis of this document to provide more details about the provisions of the concept, the Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry said.
