Status and perspective developments of uranium production in Ukraine

Atomic energy industry is one of the most important branches of Ukrainian economy. Due to the specific economic situation of Ukraine at present, its dependence on foreign energy-carriers, the role played by nuclear energy in future will be increased according to the Ukrainian National Energy Programme. This report has been prepared based on materials from archives of State Committee on Atomic Energy, Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, State Enterprise 'Kirovgeology'. The source of raw uranium materials of Ukraine has formed over a long period of time. Basically it consists of deposits genetically depending on process of alkaline metasomatite types. At present Ukraine decides on the problem to discover more non-deficient uranium deposits with cost ranges < $ 40/kg U. Uranium stocks is practically absent in Ukraine. The uranium concentrate is completely dispatched to Russia in exchange for reactor nuclear fuel heat producing elements. Existing state owned production centers still do not assure requirements in nuclear fuel for atomic electric power stations of Ukraine. Deficit uranium part for production of heat-producing elements is buying in Russia. In such a contingency the Ukrainian geological enterprises have to intensify their exploration works and existing production centers have, in a short brief space of time, to enlarge the production capacity of existing mines and exploitation of new explored uranium deposits in order to provide Ukrainian nuclear power stations with their own uranium. (author)