There are prospects between Ukraine and Russia for increasing cooperation in the nuclear energy, according to the letter of Minister of Energy Igor Nasalyk, addressed to First Deputy Director of Rosatom Kirill Komarov, ET reports.

“Taking into account the need to renew some joint projects, in particular the project on creating the nuclear fuel element production in Ukraine, we suggest conducting the meeting in Brussels during 9-12 July”, the document says.

The official decision to stop implementation of the joint project on building the nuclear fuel production plant in Kirovograd region was approved by Ukraine in mid-2015 – during the active phase of Russian war against Ukraine on Donbass.

As ET reported, in 2010, the Cabinet of Ministers approved Russian OSJC TVEL (belonging to Rosatom) as the winner of the competition for selecting technologies on building the nuclear fuel production plant.

6.8 hectares were allocated for building the plant near Smolino Village (Kirovograd region).

For implementing this project, Nuclear Fuel Production Plant PJSC was created. The Ukrainian State Concern “Nuclear Fuel” owns 50%+1 share, and the remaining 50% minus 1 share belongs to Russia’s TVEL.

At that time, the total cost of plant construction was valued at 450 mln dollars. The half of this amount should have been invested in equal shares by the shareholders (100-120 mln dollars by each party). The remaining part should have been “closed” by attracting loans.

In 2015, the plant should have started the production of nuclear fuel elements, fuel air mixtures and zirconium and stainless steel details.

The launch of production of fuel powders and tablets was planned for 2020.