Ukrainian nuclear power concern Energoatom and Russian nuclear fuel corporation TVEL could sign a new long-term fuel supply contract before April 1, 2010, Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan told reporters.
"We have agreed to sign the contract by the end of the first quarter of 2009. There is mutual interest, and I can’t see any reasons for not signing the contract," Prodan said.
Prodan said the contract was ready to be signed.
A source in the Ukrainian government said earlier that the contract was to be signed this month, during the meeting of CIS heads of government in Yalta. It could have been signed in Moscow on Sept. 2, but it was put off at the last minute until November’s meeting, the source said.
TVEL is currently the sole supplier of fuel for Ukraine’s 15 nuclear power plant reactors. The current contract, to 2010, was signed in 1997. Fuel supply volumes and terms are reviewed on an annual basis.
