Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister Yuri Boyko and US Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman discussed the Ukraine-US cooperation in the energy sphere during their meeting in Vienna on September 16, a REGNUM correspondent is told at the Ukrainian Fuel and Energy ministry press office.
The Ukrainian minister is quoted as saying during the meeting that, in terms of energy safety, the project of construction of a central spent fuel nuclear storage facility, a tender for which was won by Holtec Company (USA), is strategically important for Ukraine. He noted that implementation of the project will allow Ukraine save $10bn within ten years. According to him, to speed up the works on the project, a supplementary agreement was signed this year on possibility of carrying out limited amount of works before the Ukrainian parliament passes a bill about construction of the storage facility.
US energy secretary appreciated combined effort of the two countries in giving qualification to nuclear fuel. He also stressed necessity of securing transparent procedures and interaction in implementing a project of joint research and bidding by Naftogaz Ukraine and Маrathon International Petroleum Ltd (USA) for a license for exploring developing in the north-western part of the Dnepropetrovsk-Donetsk Hollow.
A nuclear reactor for research purposes will be developed in Azerbaijan, Director of the Institute for Radioactivity Problems of the Azerbaijani National Academy of Sciences Adil Garibov announced at a news conference.
The professor pointed out that the matter concerns a small reactor to obtain isotopes for medical purposes. “Such request has been sent, and I am sure that the International Atomic Energy Agency will give its consent for the project,” Garibov said. The issue will be discussed on September 17-21 in Vienna, 1stNews reports.
