Ukraine, Russia sign nuclear pact

KIEV, Ukraine, June 5 (UPI) -- Russia and Ukraine will cooperate on nuclear power, from mining for the fuel source to building the plants, as both plan to expand nuclear energy.

The heads of both countries' nuclear agencies signed a protocol in Kiev Monday, exchanging scientific and technical services for safety and longer lives of nuclear plants, building new plants and developing the nuclear fuel cycle.

World Nuclear News, the news service of the World Nuclear Association, reports both will look at joining teams to mine, enrich and fabricate uranium to reactor grade. Russia may also take part in the Novokonstantinovsk mine in Ukraine.

Sergey Kiriyenko, the head of Russia's Federal Atomic Energy Agency, said building power plants in Ukraine has the "potential of exporting electricity to Europe." He met in Kiev with Andrey Derkach, head of Ukratomprom.

The two will put together a list of projects by July 1, and Ukraine's Kharkov Research and Development Institute Energoproekt and Russia's Atomic and Energy Machine-Building Atomenergomash will create a joint venture.

Ukraine's Fuel and Energy Ministry and Ukratomprom will send a delegation to Angarsk, Russia, later this month. That's where Russia is creating an international uranium enrichment center, which Ukraine may take part in. Kazakhstan is already involved.