The Ukrainian state-run Nuclear Fuel company and the Russian TVEL fuel producer have drawn up a draft agreement on the creation of a joint company to produce nuclear rods, the Ukrainian firm's press service said.
The plant will become Ukraine's first enterprise to produce fuel for the country's four nuclear power stations. It will be built in Ukraine's eastern Dnepropetrovsk region.
TVEL was approved as the Ukrainian company's partner in the project in September, 2010, following a tender.
Further proof of this fact was provided by Obama Nuclear Security Summit held in Washington on April 12-13. However, this goal is unlikely to be achieved in four years.
Christophe Behar
We are preparing now a review of these design options and the decision has to be made in 2012, by the public authorities. ASTRID basic and detailed design will be launched afterwards.
Vladimir Rychin
AREVA will return the foreign workers to the uranium deposits in Niger, which have been evacuated after the September seizure of seven hostages.