The company “Atomic Energy Systems of Ukraine” received special permits for geological exploration of the subsoil, including pilot industrial development of uranium ores at four sites in the Nikolaev and Dnepropetrovsk regions, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Permits for subsoil use were granted by the State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine in accordance with Order No. 415 of November 5, 2018, writes the Kiev publication gazeta.ua.
NPP announced its intention to fill Ukraine’s nuclear energy with natural uranium of its own production. High-tech and environmentally friendly production of natural uranium concentrate by companies is planned through the industrial development of uranium deposits in Ukraine. At the first stage, this will be the accelerated development of sandstone-type deposits. The second stage envisages the creation of large-scale production in metasomatic deposits.
The company “Nuclear Energy Systems of Ukraine” was created in 2015 to attract investments from the United States into projects for the study and mining of uranium in Ukraine. Among the shareholders of the nuclear power plant is the American company U-Tech Energy.
NPP is aimed at building new generation mini-reactors that are capable of providing a new level of safety for NPP operation. Small modular reactors are one of the most popular areas of development of nuclear energy and reactor technology in the world, and Ukraine has begun to develop this market. In particular, in the summer of 2018, NPP and Holtec International (USA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly promote the introduction of SMR-160 small modular reactors in Ukraine. Holtec International is one of the world leaders in the development of small modular reactors.
On November 12, US Energy Secretary Rick Perry visited Ukraine, who, in particular, stated that the United States will help Ukraine diversify its sources of nuclear fuel supplies.
“We will also help Ukraine diversify its sources of nuclear fuel supplies, as well as provide services for spent nuclear fuel. We are ready to support Ukraine’s cooperation with Westinghouse, which is constantly growing, in the supply of fresh nuclear fuel, as well as cooperation with Holtec in the creation and construction of a Ukrainian storage facility for spent nuclear waste. We will provide technical assistance to Ukrainian developments in the field of nuclear plant safety in such a way that they ensure the appropriate level of safety at nuclear plants in Ukraine,” Perry said, reports “112-Ukraine”.