TEMPORARY STORAGE AGREEMENT
Reportedly, Russia and Ukraine have signed an unpublicized agreement in which Ukraine may continue to store its spent fuel and waste in Russia for two years. This agreement was based on two prior agreements signed by Russia and Ukraine in 1/93 and Ukraine's pledge to place all of its peaceful nuclear activities under IAEA safeguards. The agreement stipulates that the spent fuel and radioactive waste can be temporarily stored in Russia, after which the waste is to be returned to Ukraine. In 5/95 Ukraine again began shipping its spent fuel to Russia for reprocessing. Approximately 265 tons of spent fuel are produced each year at all of the NPPs in Ukraine.[3]

SPENT FUEL AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE SITES
There are six spent fuel storage sites and many low-level radioactive waste storage sites, including the Chornobyl zone, in Ukraine. On 6/30/95 a Law on the Handling of Radioactive Waste was passed by the Supreme Rada which establishes the Ministry of Chornobyl Affairs (now a part of the Ministry for Emergency Situations) as the state agency responsible for licensing storage of radioactive waste. The law also determines the liability of individuals found guilty of violating the newly established radioactive waste management norms and establishes the public's right for compensation in the case of improper handling of nuclear waste by the state or its licensee. Article 4 of the Law states that financing for the handling of radioactive materials comes from a special State Fund for the Handling of Radioactive Waste. According to the Law, enterprises contribute to the Fund in proportion to the amount of waste they produce. Until the Fund is set up, the government will finance the handling of radioactive waste from resources allocated for RADON and Chornobyl management.[4,5]

STATE PROGRAM
The Ukrainian government in 1996 approved a state program for radioactive waste management through 2005 which will be under the direction of the Ministry of Chornobyl Affairs (now the Ministry for Emergency Situations). This program will establish a national accounting system for nuclear waste and will provide for the construction of radioactive waste repositories and the reconstruction of existing radioactive waste management facilities. According to the program, spent fuel will continue to be stored in on-site pools until 2005. A central geological repository for spent fuel and high-level waste will be sought in 1996-97. By 2000, a draft project will be ready for an underground storage facility, which will be built between 2008 and 2020. The program also envisages the decontamination of 1500 hectares of land containing over 150,000 curies of activity at mining and milling sites. The chief of the information and analysis center for waste integration at the state association RADON will coordinate these tasks.[6,7]
Sources:
[1] "Russia to Receive Used Nuclear Fuel from Ukraine," ITAR-TASS, 7/19/95.
[2] "Ukrainian Shipments Lift Threat of Plant Closures," NUCLEAR FUEL, 7/31/95, p. 16.
[3] A. F. Linyov, "Shcho Robyty Z Yadernymy Vidkhodamy?," ZELENY SVIT, 4/95, p. 4.
[4] "On The Handling Of Radioactive Waste," HOLOS UKRAINY, 8/30/95, pp. 6-8; in FBIS-TEN-95-015, "Environment and World Health," 8/30/95.
[5] Alex Brall, "Ukraine Passes Law on Radioactive Waste Management," NUCLEONICS WEEK, 7/20/95. pp. 14-15.
[6] UI NEWS BRIEFING, 4/30/96.
[7] Peter Coryn, "Ukraine Government Passes Waste Plan, But Hitch Delays Implementation," NUCLEAR FUEL, 6/3/96.

SPENT FUEL AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE DEVELOPMENTS

2/24/2006: OFFICIALS ADDRESS CONCERNS ON PLANNED NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE FACILITY
On 24 February 2006, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov provided assurances that the nuclear waste storage facility, slated for construction by the U.S. company Holtec in the Chornobyl area would only be used to store waste from Ukrainian NPPs. Yekhanurov’s comments came in light of criticism of the planned facility by Ukrainian politicians – Speaker Vladimir Litvin as well as Ex-Premier Yuliya Timoshenko. [1] American officials have rushed to explain that the facility would not be used for American spent fuel. Moreover, a fact sheet by the U.S. Embassy in Kiev stressed that conclusion of an agreement with Holtec did not imply that construction would commence, as there was yet a need to complete a feasibility study and an environmental impact study, discuss the issue a local referendum, provide notification to Ukraine's neighbors, and gain the agreement of Ukraine's Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. [2]
Sources: [1] “Premier says Chernobyl storage facility to accept only Ukrainian waste,” ITAR-TASS, 24 February 2006, OSC Document CEOP20060224027100. [2] "Ukraine Central Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility," U.S. Embassy in Kiev Fact Sheet, 23 February 2006, http://kiev.usembassy.gov/.

• supporting the State Register for Radiation Sources, including the creation and support of the Main Registration Center and network of registration centers;
• training personnel in the safety and security of radiation sources; and
• providing other support necessary to implement activities within Ukraine to ensure safety and security of radiation sources and any related activities.[1,3,4]
  Sources:
  [1] "Memorandum of Understanding Between the State Nuclear Regulatory Committee of Ukraine and the United States Department of State regarding safety and security of radiation sources in Ukraine was signed on October 28, 2004 in Kiev," State Nuclear Regulatory Committee of Ukraine Web Site, http://snrcu.gov.ua/eng/news/041028.html.
  [2] Natasha Lisova, "Ukraine to set up register with U.S. funds to track radioactive material," Associated Press; in CBC News, http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/041104/w110447.html.
  [3] Anton Vodyanoy, "SShA namereny predostavit Ukraine $250 tys. na obespecheniye bezopasnosti istochnikov radiatsii," Ukrainski Novini news agency, 4 November 2004, http://www.ukranews.com.
  [4] "Goskomitet yadernogo regulirovaniya Ukrainy i Gosdepartament SShA podpisali Memorandum o vzaimoponimanii," UNIAN news agency, 4 November 2004; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.com. {Entered 2/2/05 CC}

9/24/2003: RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS INTERCEPTED AT KIEV AIRPORT
Officials at Borispol airport in Kiev seized a package on 23 September 2003 after it was found to be emitting radiation in excess of acceptable norms. The 1.5 kg package, which was addressed to the United States, was emitting radiation measuring 36 microroentgen/hour at a distance of one meter.[1] However, regional Emergencies Ministry officials later told Reuters that the radiation emitted was thousands of times the norm in Kiev, which is reportedly 0.05 milliroentgen/hr.[2] Mykola Karabet of the Emergencies Ministry, meanwhile, said that the package did not present a threat to human health or life.[2] According to another source, customs officials at Borispol airport determined that the package had been sent by a Ukrainian citizen.[3] The seized package is being held in a radioactive materials warehouse at the Borispol airport. An investigation into the incident is underway.[1] [The available information does not clarify the type of radioactive material involved.]
Sources:
[1] "V aeroportu "Borispol" zaderzhan radioaktivnyy bagazh, adresovannyy v SShA," Obozrevatel, 24 September 2003; in Integrum Techno, http://afnet.integrum.ru.
[2] "Iz Ukrainy v SShA pytalis otpravit radioaktivnuyu posylku," Fakty i Kommentarii, 25 September 2003; in Integrum Techno, http://afnet.integrum.ru.
[3] "Radioactive Parcel Bound for U.S. Seized in Ukraine," Reuters.com, 24 September 2003, http://www.reuters.com. {Entered 12/12/04 CC}

8/7/2003: ARREST OF MEN WITH AMERICIUM
A package containing radioactive americium-241 was confiscated by police in Kiev, Ukraine, ForUm reported on 7 August 2003. Three suspects were also arrested in connection with the incident. One of the three had been charged in the past with a similar crime. The suspects were stopped in front of a Kiev hotel after police noted their "suspicious behavior." The container with the americium source was in the hands of one of the suspects at the time of the arrest. The radiation inside the container measured 4,500 microroentgen/hr, or 1000 times the norm according to ForUm.[1] [The report did not specify the amount of americium-241 involved.] The Ukrainian Interior Ministry, meanwhile, said the radiation emitted from the container itself did not exceed accepted norms.[2] The radioactive source was sent for storage to Kiev's Radon Special Combine. Police are working to determine the origin of the material and what the suspects intended to do with it.[1]
Sources:
[1] "Konteyner s ameritsiyem izyatyy v Kieve fonit v 1000 raz bolshe normy," ForUm, 7 August 2003; in Integrum Techno database, http://www.integrum.ru.
[2] "Ukrainian Police Seize Radioactive Container," UNIAN news agency, 7 August 2003; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com. {Entered 12/12/04 CC}

8/1/2003: KRASNOYARSK ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT ALLOW IMPORT OF UKRAINE'S SPENT FUEL UNTIL DEBT PAID
On 1 August 2003, UNIAN reported that, according to Yuriy Lebedev, head of Russia's International Fuel and Energy Company, which is managing the import of spent nuclear fuel to Krasnoyarsk Kray for storage, the Krasnoyarsk administration will not allow new shipments of spent fuel from Ukraine for storage until Ukraine pays its $11.76 million debt for 2002 deliveries.
["Krasnoyarskiy kray otkazhetsya prinimat otrabotannoye yadernoye toplivo iz Ukrainy v sluchaye nepogasheniya 11.76 mln. dollarov dolga," UNIAN,
1 August 2003; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.com.] {Entered 10/9/2003 DS}

7/26/2003: CESIUM SOURCE DISCOVERED IN LUGANSKAYA OBLAST
Police in Luganskaya Oblast found a sealed container with cesium-137 on the side of a road near the village of Uralo-Kavkaz. Ukraine's Ministry of Emergency Situations reported on 26 July 2003 that the container bore the serial number BGI-90AP1V2, 51 and was manufactured in 1984. Police removed the container, and say it poses no threat to the population or environment. An investigation into the incident is underway.
["V Luganskoy oblasti na obochine dorogi nayden konteyner s tseziyem," Regions.ru, 26 July 2003; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.} {Entered 12/12/2003 CC}

6/23/2003: MEN ARRESTED IN CHERKASSY FOR TRANSPORTING CESIUM
Ukrainian police arrested two men in Cherkassy in June 2003 while checking documents on a road, Pravda.ru reported on 23 June 2003. The article did not specify the date of the incident. The police decided to search the car after noting the nervous behavior of its two occupants. The search yielded a small cylinder, which was marked with a radiation hazard sign and was factory-made. The cylinder was emitting radiation and suspected to contain cesium. Pravda.ru reported that specialists from the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) and the Kiev firm Rodon were called to the scene, where they determined that the radioactive container was emitting 4200 microroentgen/hr. The radioactive object was turned over to MES, where it will undergo analysis. The two suspects remain in custody and charges have been filed against them.
[Andrey Lubenskiy, "Ukrainskiye gaishniki poymali...radioaktivnoe taksi," Pravda.ru, 25 June 2003; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.] {Entered 12/12/2003 CC}

4/18/2003: ENERHOATOM FORMS COMMITTEE ON CONSTRUCTING SPENT FUEL STORAGE FACILITY
LIGA Online reported on 18 April 2003 that Enerhoatom established a committee to deal with issues related to the construction of a spent fuel storage facility for the South Ukraine, Rivne, and Khmelnytskyy nuclear power plants. The committee is headed by Enerhoatom Vice President Yuriy Kovrizhkin and includes representatives of Enerhoatom, Ministry of Fuel and Energy, State Nuclear Regulatory Committee, and the Committee on the Use of Atomic Energy.
["V NAEK 'Energoatom' sozdan Tendernyy komitet po voprosam stroitelstva KhOYaT dlya Yuzho-Ukrainskoy, Rivnenskoy, i Khmelnitskoy AES," LIGA online, 18 April 2003; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.com/.] {Entered 5/13/2003 MJ}

3/20-21/2003: UKRAINE TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR WASTE HANDLING PROCEDURES
During a meeting held at the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) on 20-21 March 2003, representatives of the Ministry of Fuel and Energy, Enerhoatom, the State Nuclear Regulatory Committee, and energy design institutes in Kiev and Kharkiv agreed to develop a unified set of guidelines for handling nuclear waste. According to the Enerhoatom press service, working groups incorporating NPP representatives are to offer proposals on processing and storing radioactive waste, creating a special fund, changing the organizational structure, and coordinating the content of regulatory documents.
["V Ukraine vyrabotayut yedinuyu kontseptsiyu obrashcheniya s radioaktivnymi otkhodami," Obozrevatel, 21 March 2003; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.com/.] {Entered 5/13/2003 MJ}

4/11/2002: PRODUCTION OF SPENT FUEL CONTAINERS MAY START IN 2003
The director of the Non-Standard Equipment and Pipeline Plant (NSOiT) at the Zaporizhzhya NPP, Grigoriy Gorodner, announced on 11 April 2002 that his plant may commence production of spent fuel containers as early as 2003. According to Gorodner, Enerhoatom has already made the decision to start production. Although NSOiT, in cooperation with the US firm Duke Engineering and Services will produce 11 such containers in 2002, NSOiT will only manufacture the internal components of the containers, and the complete containers will be produced by the US firm.
["Ukraina nachinayet stroit otechestvennyye konteynery dlya OYaT," Interfax, 11 April 2002.] {Entered 6/13/2002 MJ}

3/1/2002: ZAPORIZHZHYA TO STOP SPENT FUEL SHIPMENTS TO RUSSIA IN 2003
Enerhoatom president Yuriy Nedashkovskiy announced on 1 March 2002 that the Zaporizhzhya NPP will start storing all of its spent nuclear fuel at an on-site dry storage facility in 2003. According to Nedashkovskiy, this will permit Ukraine to halve its shipments of spent fuel to Russia and save Ukraine $40 million annually. Nedashkovskiy also said that Ukraine is considering building a spent fuel storage facility at each Ukrainian NPP, or constructing a storage facility in the Chornobyl NPP zone. Reportedly Enerhoatom is favoring the latter project.
["Zaporozhskaya AES v 2003 godu otkazhetsya ot vyvoza otrabotannogo yadernogo topliva v Rossiyu," Interfax, 1 March 2002.] {Entered 6/13/2002 MJ}

8/18/2001: LOADING OF ZAPORIZHZHYA DRY STORAGE CONTAINERS BEGINS, TESTING PERIOD TO BEGIN 6 SEPTEMBER 2001
Loading operations began on 18 August 2001 to fill three dry storage containers with spent fuel. Each container will be loaded with 22 spent fuel assemblies and will have an overall weight of 20t. Loading operations are expected to be completed on 6 September 2001, when a one-year testing period for the containers will begin. A total of 380 containers are planned to be completed with a service life of 50 years, after which the fuel will either be processed or buried.[1,2] According to local administration sources, the new containers will reduce expenses for fuel storage by a factor of 10, and will save Ukraine up to $10 million a year. Currently, spent fuel storage costs $350/kg to transport it to Russia. Costs for transporting spent fuel to Russia in 2001 alone are expected to be $64.2 million. Onsite storage at Zaporizhzhya will reduce the cost to $32/kg and save the six operating nuclear power units in Ukraine up to $40 million a year.[1,2]
Sources:
[1] "Na Zaporozhskoy AES nachalas zagruzka pervogo konteynera sukhogo khranilishcha otrabotannogo yadernogo topliva," UNIAN, No. 34, 18 August 2001.
[2] "Na Ukraine vvedena v ekspluatatsiyu pervaya ochered khranilishcha yadernogo topliva na Zaporozhskoy AES," Interfax, 21 August 2001. {Entered 10/16/2001 RG}

3/23/2001: CABINET OF MINISTERS APPROVES CHORNOBYL LIQUID RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING PROJECT
The Cabinet of Ministers approved plans to construct a liquid radioactive waste processing plant at the Chornobyl NPP site. For more information, see the 3/23/2001 entry in the Chornobyl Spent Fuel And Radioactive Waste Developments file. {Entered 5/25/01 RG}

3/20/2001: TEST OPERATION OF DRY STORAGE CONTAINERS AT ZAPORIZHZHYA MAY START BY END OF JUNE 2001
Interfax reported on 20 March 2001 that three dry storage containers for spent nuclear fuel, located at the Zaporizhzhya NPP, may begin test operation by the end of the first half of 2001. The announcement was made by Enerhoatom Executive Director Viktor Stovbun. Test operation is to last one year, during which time 66 spent fuel assemblies will be stored in three dry storage containers. While the spent fuel containers were originally scheduled for experimental operation in July 2000, local authorities have blocked the issue of necessary permits, although the facility has already received its operating license for test use. As of March 2001, the first three containers had been manufactured by the US firm Duke Engineering and Services, 11 more were being manufactured in the United States and Ukraine, and all additional containers were to be produced in Ukraine. The Zaporizhzhya NPP dry storage facility can accommodate up to 380 dry storage containers, reportedly enough to store all spent fuel generated by the NPP during its service life. Dry storage containers will be used to store spent fuel for up to 50 years.
["Toplivo v sukhiye khranilishcha na Zaporozhskoy AES, vozmozhno, budet zagruzheno v I polugodii," Interfax, 20 March 2001.] {Entered 5/23/2001 MJ}

3/5/2001: ENERHOATOM AND GERMAN FIRM NUKEM SIGN CONTRACT TO CONSTRUCT WASTE TREATMENT FACILITY AT CHORNOBYL NPP
On 5 March 2001, Enerhoatom and the German firm NUKEM Nuklear GmbH signed a contract to construct a radioactive waste treatment facility at the Chornobyl NPP. For more information, see the 3/5/2001entry in the Chornobyl Spent Fuel And Radioactive Waste Developments file. {Entered 4/25/01 RG}

1/26/2001: NUCLEAR WASTE TREATMENT FIRM TO BE FORMED
UNIAN reported on 26 January 2001 that a state enterprise is being established in Dniprodzerzhynsk in order to treat nuclear waste created in the process of uranium enrichment activities. Called Baryer, the new enterprise is being created out of assets belonging to the Dnipro Basin Chemical Plant, which is undergoing restructurization. Baryer's responsibilities will include land recultivation, radiation monitoring, and radioactive decontamination of production facilities used for uranium enrichment. The new enterprise is expected to begin its operations in 2002, in cooperation with the Promtekhnologiya Scientific Research Institute in Zhovti Vody. It will be headed by Dnipro Basin Chemical Plant's former Chief Radiologist and Ecologist, Viktor Lebedev.[1] The amount of nuclear waste accumulated at the Dnipro Basin Chemical Plant is estimated at 36 million tons.[2]
Sources:
[1] "V Dneprodzerzhinske sozdayetsya gospredpriyatiye dlya rekultivatsii otvalov byvshego proizvodstva obogashchennogo urana,"UNIAN, 26 February 2001; in Integrum-Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.
[2] "V Ukraine 7 tys. 541 obekt potentsialno opasen dlya zhizni i deyatelnosti lyudey," UNIAN, 26 February 2001; in Integrum-Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.{Entered 5/15/2001 MJ}

8/1/2000: UKRAINE TO DELIVER SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL TO RUSSIA
Ukraine will deliver $79.8 million worth of spent nuclear fuel to Russia in 2000. Spent fuel from Ukraine's 11 VVER-1000 reactors will be sent to the Mining and Chemical Combine in Zheleznogorsk (Krasnoyarsk-26) while fuel from Rivne NPP's VVER-440 reactors will be transported to the Mayak Chemical Combine. Only waste from the Chornobyl NPP RMBK-1000 reactors will remain in Ukraine and will be stored locally. Enerhoatom, which is implementing the spent fuel deliveries, has already paid Russia $14.7 million for transporting the spent fuel.
Sources:
[1] "Ukraina gotova platit za yadernyye otkhody," Vremya MN online edition, http://news.mosinfo.ru/news/2000/VMN/, 1 August 2000.
[2] Raisa Stetsyura, ITAR-TASS, 31 July 2000; in "Ukraine to deliver USD80 m worth of spent nuke fuel to RF," Lexis Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com. {Entered 8/14/2000 MJ}

6/5/2000: UKRAINIAN GREEN PARTY PROTESTS AGAINST NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE AT ZAPORIZHZHYA NPP
The Nikopol organization of the Green Party of Ukraine issued a statement on 5 June 2000 protesting against the plan to store spent nuclear fuel at the Zaporizhzhya NPP. The statement expressed concerns that the storage facilities are located in a potential flood zone in a densely populated region of Ukraine. Moreover, according to the statement, Zaporizhzhya NPP already has the second largest accumulation of nuclear waste in Ukraine, after Chornobyl, with 14,000 cubic meters of radioactive waste.
["Partiya zelenykh Ukrainy protestuyet protiv vvedeniya v ekspluatatsiyu khranilishch yadernykh otkhodov na Zaporozhskoy AES," Interfax, No.3, 5 June 2000.] {Entered 6/30/2000 MJ}

5/22/2000: GOVERNMENT COMMISSION APPROVES TESTING OF DRY STORAGE CONTAINERS AT ZAPORIZHZHYA NPP
ITAR-TASS reported on 22 May 2000 that a government commission headed by Enerhoatom president Volodymyr Bronnykov approved the testing of dry storage containers for spent nuclear fuel at the Zaporizhzhya NPP. As of May 2000 there were three containers at Zaporizhzhya; another 11 are to be completed before the end of 2000. For more information, see the 5/7/2000 and 3/2000 entries in this section.
[ITAR-TASS, 22 May 2000; in "Ukrainian Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Ready For Testing," FBIS Document CEP200005233000045.] {Entered 5/31/2000 GD}

5/7/2000: ENERHOATOM CONFIDENT THAT GOVERNMENT WILL APPROVE DRY STORAGE SITES AT ZAPORIZHZHYA NPP
For more information, see the 5/7/2000 entry in the Zaporizhzhya Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Developments section.

3/30/2000: US FUNDING AIDS JOINT UKRAINE-RUSSIA CLEANUP PROJECT AT CHERNOBYL
On 30 March 2000, Georgiy Manelis, the deputy director of the Institute of Chemical Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, stated that Russia and Ukraine would cooperate in a cleanup project at the Chernobyl NPP. The project will focus on storage and burial of combustible radioactive waste in the Chernobyl area. Russian scientists have raised doubts as to the safety of simply burying the waste and have suggested incinerating the waste and then burying the remains as the only safe alternative. Scientists from the United States are assisting their Ukrainian and Russian counterparts. The US government has already donated $300,000 to the Russians and $325,000 to the Ukrainians for the development of the project.
["Rossiya i Ukraina razrabotali proyekt likvidatsii posledstviy chernobylskoy avarii," Interfax, 30 March 2000.] {Entered 5/17/2000 GD}

3/14/2000: UKRAINE SUGGESTS SENDING RUSSIAN SPENT IONIZING RADIATION SOURCES BACK TO RUSSIA
On 14 March 2000, UNIAN reported that the Ukrainian Nuclear Regulatory Administration (NRA) suggested that spent Russian-made sources of ionizing radiation should be sent back to Russia. The origin of the spent materials, whether from civilian or research facilities, was not made clear in the article. The NRA presented its proposal to Russia's Ministry of Atomic Energy (Minatom), which is responsible for overseeing the transfer and storage of radioactive sources.
["Ukraina predlagayet vozvrashchat k Rossii otrabotannyye istochniki ioniziruyushchego izlucheniya rossiyskogo proizvodstva," UNIAN, 13-19 March 2000, No. 11.] {Entered 5/16/2000 GD}

3/2000: LICENSING OF DRY STORAGE SITE PUT ON INDEFINITE HOLD
Vladimir Shidlovskiy, head of the nuclear fuel cycle department of Russia's Ministry of Atomic Energy, stated in a March 2000 UNIAN article that dry storage containers meant to temporarily hold spent nuclear fuel had not been licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Administration of Ukraine.[1] Three containers have already been commissioned at the Zaporizhzhya NPP. Fourteen are to be constructed there by the end of 2000. Each container has the capacity to store 24 fuel assemblies. The 64,186 square meter concrete storage platform being built at Zaporizhzhya is designed to accomodate 380 containers. According to Enerhoatom President Volodymyr Bronnykov, the dry storage containers would allow Ukraine to store waste onsite at its NPPs temporarily while deciding what to do with the waste. One Ukrainian nuclear expert questioned the incentives of politicians who find it more profitable to pay up to $100 million a year to Russia than to build dry storehouses for nuclear waste in Ukraine. The Zaporizhzhya NPP plans to build a total of 380 waste containers at an overall cost of $85 million.[2] Shidlovskiy also noted that rumors about an agreement between Ukraine, Russia, and Kazakhstan concerning the construction of a storage facility in Ukraine were untrue.[1]
Sources:
[1] "Obreteniya Ukrainoy nezavisimosti vyvoz otrabotannogo yadernogo topliva v RF proizvoditsya na kommercheskoy osnove," UNIAN, 13-19 March 2000, No. 11.
[2] "Decision on licensing operation of storage facilities for nuclear fuel wastes in Ukraine put off for uncertain period," Interfax-Ukraine Business Panorama, 28 February-6 March 2000, Issue 371; in "Ukraine Business Panorama for 6 March 2000," 7 March 2000, FBIS Document CEP20000307000053. {Entered 5/16/2000 GD}

11/99: UKRAINE AGREES TO ALLOW SPENT FUEL FROM BULGARIA TO TRANSIT UKRAINE
For more information on this issue, see the entry the underMayak Reprocessing Facilities.
[Ann MacLachlan, "Bulgaria Exploring Spent Fuel Options If Shipments Through Moldova Delayed," NuclearFuel, Vol. 24, No. 22, 1 November 1999.]{entered 11/2/99 CC}

9/8/99: NEWS REPORT ALLEGES THAT BLACK SEA FLEET BURIED RADIOACTIVE WASTE IN SEVASTOPOL
For more information on this issue, see General Naval Radioactive Waste Developments..{Entered 2/14/2000 CC}

6/99: UKRAINE EXAMINES RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL OPTIONS
Ukrainian experts are examining various disposal options for the large quantities of radioactive waste, spent nuclear fuel, and waste from the Chornobyl sarcophagus and restricted zone that have accumulated in Ukraine. Through examination of Ukraine's territory, geological formations suitable for underground storage have been identified. Temporary storage solutions and cost effectiveness are also being considered. The long-term solutions being investigated include locating a deep storage facility in crystalline masses within the boundaries of the Chornobyl restricted zone, burying the waste in deep boreholes, and using natural or man-made subsurface caves. Although the first option does not present any socio-political complications, it does not meet IAEA environmental and geological criteria. The second option does not take into consideration horizontal tectonic movements that could damage the storage shafts. Of the natural subsurface caves, salt mines in Donbass are the most acceptable location for an underground radioactive waste storage due to their capacity, composition, geomechanical properties, socio-political factors, and low cost.
[Oleksandr Hudyma, Volodymyr Pinchuk, and Dmytro Khrushchov, "What To Do With Radioactive Wastes? -- A Program for the Burial of Wastes From Nuclear Power Plants and Nuclear Fuel is Being Developed," Holos Ukrainy, 16 June 1999, p. 7; in "Nuclear Waste Disposal Options Viewed," FBIS Document FTS19990629001861.] {Entered 9/9/99 SK}

4/99: COMMISSION TO INTEGRATE NUCLEAR WASTE PROGRAM FORMS IN UKRAINE
An inter-industry commission to work on integrating the Ukrainian nuclear waste program was formed in April 1999 by a government resolution. Oleksandr Smyshlyayev, the first deputy minister of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety and the head of the Nuclear Regulatory Administration, was designated the head of the commission; Volodymyr Kholosha, the deputy minister for emergency situations and consequences of the Chornobyl disaster, and Hennadiy Yaroslavtsev, the deputy energy minister, were appointed his deputies. The commission will coordinate implementation of state policy on nuclear waste procedures. Its main tasks for the period between 1999 and 2005 include opening of the Vector complex to process and bury low- and medium-activity nuclear wastes from the Chornobyl zone; construction of an enterprise for nuclear waste processing; reequipping and reprofiling the state enterprise Radon's regional branches for collection and temporary storage of waste from Ukrainian industrial, scientific, medical, and other enterprises; and site designation for a central geological storage facility for nuclear waste. The program will be funded from the state budget and from a special state fund for nuclear waste treatment.
[UNIAN, 16 April 1999; in "Government Amends Nuclear Waste Programme," Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe.] {Entered 4/23/99 SK}

2/12/99:UKRAINE PLANS CONSTRUCTION OF SECOND FUEL STORAGE FACILITY
A tender is scheduled to take place in March 1999 for the construction of a second storage facility for processed nuclear fuel from the Chornobyl (Chernobyl) nuclear power plant (SVYAP-2). Planning for the project will be financed by an ECU 118 million ($133 million) grant from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The storage facility is planned to be built by 2001. The site has not yet been determined, but four potential sites are being considered. Ukraine's Energy Ministry and Enerhoatom suggest building SVYAP-2 near the already existing storage site at Chornobyl. The nuclear control commission, however, objects to this proposal due to high pollution, dust dispersion, and radiation risks associated with the Chornobyl sarcophagus. Instead, the commission proposes that the storage facility be built near the partially constructed fifth and sixth reactor units of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. The commission experts view this location as economically and technically feasible.
[UNIAN, 12 February 1999; in "Tender To Be Held For Construction Of Nuclear Storage Facility," Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe.] {Entered 2/23/99 SK}

2/99: RUSSIA RESUMES ACCEPTANCE OF UKRAINE'S SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL
Russia resumed accepting spent nuclear fuel shipments for processing from Ukraine after a dispute over a price for the service. The administration of Krasnoyarsk Kray agreed that the Mining and Chemical Combine in Zheleznogorsk will accept Ukraine's nuclear waste at $330 per kilogram. Although this price is $45 per kilogram higher than last year,[1] it is still below the world price of $700-1000 per kilogram [2] and below Krasnoyarsk Kray Governor Aleksandr Lebed's proposal of $500 per kilogram.[1]
Sources:
[1] Oleksiy Breus, "Wastes... On Reserve," Vecherniy Kyyiv, p. 5, 24 February 1999; in "Nuclear Waste Disposal Alternatives Eyed," FBIS Document FTS19990314000400.
[2] "Ukraine Owes Russia $12.4 Mln For Storing Used Nuclear Fuel," Interfax, 27 January 1999. {Entered 3/30/99 SK}

1/6/99: KRASNOYARSK DECISION PROMPTS UKRAINE TO ACCELERATE PLANS FOR SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL STORAGE FACILITY
The announcement by the administration of Krasnoyarsk Kray in Russia that it will no longer accept spent nuclear fuel for storage has spurred Ukrainian officials to announce that Ukraine will build a domestic nuclear fuel storage facility by the year 2000. The storage facility will be built at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. According to officials, both the transportation infrastructure and the necessary storage technologies have long been in place, but insufficient funding prevented completion of a storage facility by 1999. The cost of finishing the facility at Zaporizhzhya is comparable to what Ukraine would have had to pay Krasnoyarsk's Mining and Chemical Combine (GKhK for storage and reprocessing, approximately $91 million.[1] Russia's Minister of Atomic Energy and the management of GKhK have argued that Ukraine's price was more or less competitive, and that Russia would endure a major setback in the spent nuclear fuel storage and reprocessing business if it blocked fuel from Ukraine. Underlying this reasoning is not only the need for revenue, but also the desire to keep Ukraine's nuclear industry dependent on Russia.[2]
Sources:
[1] ITAR-TASS, 6 January 1999; in "Ukraine to Build Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility," FBIS-SOV-99-006.
[2] "Lebed Pressures Ukraine's Nuclear Power Industry," Jamestown Monitor, 7 January 1999. {Entered 2/17/99 CEM}

1/5/99: RUSSIAN MINISTER OF ATOMIC ENERGY TRAVELS TO KRASNOYARSK TO INVESTIGATE SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL DISPUTE
Russian Minister of Atomic Energy Yevgeniy Adamov traveled to Krasnoyarsk Kray on 5 January 1999 to urge the region's governor, Aleksandr Lebed, to accept Ukrainian spent nuclear fuel. Adamov stressed that in not doing so, Krasnoyarsk was endangering Russia's position in the spent nuclear fuel storage and reprocessing market. He said that the low price Ukraine was paying for nuclear fuel storage and reprocessing was part of a temporary agreement and that the fee would be increased later.[1] Ukraine currently pays less than $300 per kilogram to have its spent nuclear fuel stored and reprocessed in Russia.[2]
Sources:
[1] "Russian Nuclear Chief Argues for Accepting Nuclear Waste" Associated Press, 5 January 1999 in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
[2] "Adamov Says Russia Should Expand Reprocessing of Spent Nuclear Fuel, " BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 6 January 1999; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com. {Entered 1/11/99 CEM}

11/17/98: RUSSIA ANNOUNCES IT WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT UKRAINIAN SPENT FUEL FOR STORAGE
As a result of the announcement on 17 November 1998 by the administration of Krasnoyarsk Kray that it will no longer accept spent nuclear fuel for storage, the Leningrad, Balakovo, Kalinin, Kursk, and Smolensk nuclear power plants in Russia and the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Ukraine must halt the transport of RBMK spent nuclear fuel to Krasnoyarsk's Mining and Chemical Combine (GKhK). The kray administration is upset with the fact that it only receives $275 per kilogram of waste while the international rate is $800-$1000 per kilogram. The administration has also called for an independent evaluation of the facilities at GKhK, due to fears that the storage facilities may be overfilled.[1] As a result of the decision not to accept the nuclear fuel, the territory will lose about 200 million rubles (approximately $10.7 million)in revenue. GKhK Managing Director Valeriy Lebedev fears that Ukrainian nuclear authorities would be unwilling to agree to pay twice as much for storage, and West European enterprises involved in storage and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel might be willing to offer Ukraine more advantageous terms.[2] According to Segodnya, Deputy Governor of Krasnoyarsk Kray for Ecology Aleksandra Kulenkova announced that three conditions must be met by the Russian and Ukrainian governments before additional nuclear waste is accepted: 1) fees for storing and reprocessing the spent nuclear fuel must be pre-paid in dollars; 2) the price per kilogram must be no lower than $500; and 3) Krasnoyarsk must be able to participate in negotiating all intergovernmental agreements between Kiev and Moscow on the question of nuclear fuel storage and reprocessing. Since the Ministry of Atomic Energy (Minatom) does not want to consider the kray's opinion in this matter, the kray has begun proceedings in the Constitutional Court against Minatom. The situation has become so heated that the Minister of Atomic Energy Yevgeniy Adamov is planning a visit to the region in an attempt to meet with the Governor of Krasnoyarsk Kray Aleksandr Lebed and settle the dispute.[3]
Sources:
[1] Tatyana Golubovich, "Krasnoyarsk Kray Has Declared Boycott on Nuclear Waste," Kommersant, 18 November 1998, p. 4; in "Krasnoyarsk Kray Refuses Nuclear Waste," FBIS Document FTS19981119000338.
[2] Yuriy Khots, ITAR-TASS, 1 December 1998; in "Russian Plant Unable to Accept Ukraine's Spent Nuclear Fuel," FBIS-TAC-98-335.
[3] Igor Saskov, "V Krasnoyarskom kraye mozhet poyavitsya Chernobyl na kolesakh," Segodnya on-line edition, http://www.ipres.ru/news/sg/98/11/data/66-7v_kr.htm, 28 November 1998. {Entered 1/11/99 CEM}

6/98: US PROVIDES AID FOR DISPOSAL OF NUCLEAR WASTE
As a result of material and technical aid provided by the United States, Ukraine is now able to manufacture containers for its spent nuclear fuel. The containers, made of concrete, are hermetically sealed and measure approximately three meters in diameter. Once the new containers are filled with spent fuel, they will be stored at specially constructed concrete sites located near nuclear power plants.[1] The first three containers, designed by the US companies Duke Engineering and Services and Sierra Nuclear Corporation,[3] will be manufactured at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, and will contain spent fuel from that facility. It is hoped that the use of such containers will be extended to Ukraine's other nuclear power plants in the future.[1] The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory took part in the technology transfer under terms of the US Department of Energy's International Nuclear Safety Program.[2]
Sources:
[1] "Ecosafety: Sarcophagi--For Soviet Technology. From the US..." Vecherniy Kyyiv, 17 June 1998; in "US Provides Nuclear Waste Disposal Aid," FBIS-SOV-98-204.
[2] "Improving Safety Through Dry Storage of Spent Fuel," Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Press Release, online edition, http:www.insp.pnl.gov:2080/?info/drystore.
[3] AP Worldstream, 4 November 1998; in "Official: Ukraine May Stop Sending Spent Nuclear Fuel to Russia," Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, web.lexis-nexis.com/universe. {Entered 7/30/98 SP} {Updated 11/16/99 SK}

1/97: KHARKIV AND US NATIONAL LABORATORIES COLLABORATE ON NEW FORM OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
The US Los Alamos National Laboratory and Ukraine's Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology are collaborating on a project involving a reactor that would transmute radioactive waste into short-living or safe isotopes, which would, in turn, quickly decay into non-radioactive compounds. Nuclear research centers in Russia, Sweden, and the Czech Republic will also participate. In a separate project, Ukraine's Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology and the US Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are cooperating on the development of an automatic, "absolutely safe," underground nuclear reactor, which will operate at a depth of 150 meters and produce very little waste.
[Vladimir Fomenko, ITAR-TASS, 14 January 1997; in "Former Weapons Center Cooperating With US Laboratories," FBIS-SOV-97-010.] {Entered 2/18/98 SP}

6/6/96: UKRAINE NEGOTIATES WITH G-7 ON STORAGE FACILITY
Negotiators for Ukraine and the G7 reported that assistance agreements will be signed in 7/96 to build a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel and recycling plants.
[INTERFAX, 6/6/96; in "Ukraine: G-7, Ukrainian Experts Disagree Over Chornobyl Shutdown," FBIS-SOV-96-111, 6/6/96.]

6/96: MINISTER KHOLOSHA ANNOUNCES CRITICAL STATE OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
After working with Duke Engineering on procurement of dry storage casks at Zaporizhzhya, Derzhkomatom is considering storage option for the other nuclear power plants through its engineering institute in Kiev, ENERGOPROYEKT. According to the Minister of Chornobyl Affairs, Volodymyr Kholosha, the state of radioactive waste management in Ukraine is critical. Waste often accumulates in places not suitable for storage. Radioactive materials are being moved illegally, ionizing sources are being misused, documented dates do not match real situations, sources are being stolen or lost, and radiation accidents are taking place. [Peter Coryn, "Ukraine Government Passes Waste Plan, But Hitch Delays Implementation," NUCLEAR FUEL, 6/3/96.]

5/24/96: TACIS WILL FINANCE UKRAINIAN WASTE DEPOSITORY
Environmental Minister Yuriy Kostenko announced that Ukraine will possess its own radioactive waste depository in 30 to 50 years. Its construction will be partially financed by the TACIS organization.
[INTELNEWS, 5/26/96; in "Ukraine: Problems of Disposal of Nuclear Fuel Waste Viewed," FBIS-TEN-96-006, 5/24/96.]

4/28/96: G-7 AID FOR IMPROVEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
The G7 is providing $11 million for improvement of radioactive waste management in Ukraine. This aid will be used for waste management training, radiation monitoring and detection equipment, and nuclear power plant liquid waste treatment.
["Summary of G-7 Efforts On Nuclear Safety," THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY, 4/28/96, p. 3.]

4/23/96: STATE PROGRAM TO HANDLE RADIOACTIVE WASTES IN UKRAINE IS APPROVED
The Presidium of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved a state program to handle radioactive wastes in Ukraine from 1996-2005. According to the program, the Ministry of Chornobyl Affairs will be in charge of this project. The program includes measures to transform the sarcophagus surrounding Chornobyl Unit 4 into an ecologically safe facility. The program also includes plans to form a state fund for the handling of radioactive waste. This fund will be developed based on the resources of all organizations which produce radioactive wastes.
[CISNP Communications with Volodymyr Chumak, 5/96.]

3/7/96: ONLY ONE COMPANY LICENSED TO HANDLE RADIOACTIVE WASTE IN UKRAINE
Radon Facilities and Waste Management is the only company in Ukraine licensed to deal with radioactive waste from industry and science. The company does not accept radioactive waste from nuclear power plants.
[CISNP Discussions with Ukrainian nuclear official, 3/7/96.]

1/96: UKRAINE HAS TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITY TO REPROCESS NUCLEAR MATERIALS
According to a recent study, Ukraine has the technological capabilities necessary to reprocess nuclear materials should it decide to do so in the future.
[Valentin Zakharov, Andrey Sviridov, and Ildar Akchurin, "Sostoyaniye Oruzheynogo Kompleksa V Stranakh Blizhnego Zarubezhya," YADERNYY KONTROL, 1/96, p. 15-23.]

11/95: CONFERENCE ON REMOVING AND STORING RADIOACTIVE WASTE
Derzhkomatom, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety, the Academy of Sciences, the State Committee for Geology, and the Institute of Geologic Sciences held a conference on ways to remove and store radioactive waste. During the conference, the results of regional studies were considered.
["Vydalennya Radioaktyvnykh I Toksichnykh Vidkhodiv," ZELENI SVIT, 11/95, No. 11(90), p. 2.]

11/95: US NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ESTABLISHES CONTROLS OVER RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
About two-thirds of Norway's nuclear assistance (expected to be $20 million for all countries in 1995) is focused on nuclear waste management and radiation protection. In addition, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission is providing Ukrainian and Russian personnel with assistance to establish regulatory controls over nuclear waste, spent fuel, and other radioactive materials.
["Nuclear Safety: Concerns With Nuclear Facilities and Other Sources Of Radiation In The Former Soviet Union," GAO REPORT TO THE HONORABLE BOB GRAHAM, US SENATE, 11/95, p. 29

10/2/95: UKRAINE INTENDS TO BUILD REPROCESSING PLANT
Mykhailo Umanets reported at a news conference that Ukraine intends to build a nuclear reprocessing plant. This announcement came soon after news that the G-7 had rejected the Ukrainian proposal to build a gas-fired power station in Slavutych. According to Umanets, without a reprocessing plant, Chornobyl can not be closed.[1] This revised plan was presented to the Verkhovna Rada on 10/11/95 by Yevhen Marchuk, who said that financing had to be settled by December. [2]
Sources:
[1]"Ukraine Asks Canada to Press G7 on Chornobyl," REUTER, 10/2/95.
[2]"Ukraine, G7 In New Talks To Close Chornobyl," REUTER, 10/11/95.

10/95: NUCLEAR WASTE WILL BE STORED AT 12 SITES
Ukraine has selected 12 possible sites (four in the north and eight in the central Dnieper basin) for storage of nuclear waste. According to Dmitro Khrushchov, head of the Institute of Geological Sciences at the Academy of Sciences, a proposed 100,000 cubic meter repository will be capable of holding all NPP waste plus that arising from Chornobyl clean-up and decommissioning.
["Repository Sites," NUCLEAR ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL, p. 12.]

8/95: UKRAINE NEEDS TO DEVELOP OWN NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE
One of two environmental laws now in effect in Ukraine deals with the problem of processing spent fuel. Russia came to a temporary decision to allow processing of spent fuel assemblies from Ukrainian NPPs and to allow limited long-term fuel storage. However, according to the General Director of the Eastern Mining and Conversion Combine, Mykhailo Babak, for the long-term Ukraine will need to develop nuclear waste storage of its own.
[Interview with Mykhailo Babak, "The General Director Speaks," NUKEM, 8/95, p. 16.]

7/20/95: GREAT AMOUNT OF WASTE PRODUCED BY UKRAINIAN ENTERPRISES
Ukrainian nuclear power plants have amassed more than 60 million cubic meters of waste and the uranium industry has produced another 50 million cu. m. Approximately 8,000 hectares of productive land near uranium mines and mills have been exposed to contamination. Around 5,000 Ukrainian enterprises outside the nuclear industry use radioactive materials.
[Alex Brall, "Ukrainian Parliament Passes Law on Radioactive Waste Management," NUCLEONICS WEEK, 7/20/95, pp. 14-15.]

7/19/95: UKRAINIAN SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL WILL BE REPROCESSED AT KRASNOYARSK FACILITY
Spent nuclear fuel from Ukrainian reactors will be reprocessed at a facility (the RT-2 reprocessing plant) to be built near Krasnoyarsk and solidified reprocessing wastes will be returned to Ukraine. More than 4,000 spent nuclear fuel assemblies are currently being stored at Ukraine's nuclear power stations. The first truckloads of spent fuel destined for Russia have been sent from the Zaporizhzhya and South Ukraine nuclear power stations. [1] According to Nur Nihmatullin, First Deputy Chairman of the Derzhkomatom, shipping the first 144 spent nuclear fuel assemblies by rail to Russia was more expensive than storing them on its own territory. To this end, SCUEA has begun a project with the Duke Engineering and Services, Inc. to increase storage capacity in existing pools. Duke will also help design and build casks for dry storage. They are currently "re-racking" storage pools to use space more effectively. [2,3,4] Zaporizhzhya, Rivne, and South Ukraine NPPs will soon send a second batch of spent nuclear fuel to Krasnoyarsk-26 to be processed and glazed.[5,6]
Sources:
[1] UNIAN (KIEV), 7/8/95; in "Transfer of Exhausted Nuclear Fuel to Russia Resumes," FBIS-SOV-95-131, 7/8/95.
[2] "Ukraine Restarts Spent N-Fuel Shipments to Russia," NUCNET, 7/17/95.

	Updated December 2007