Overview
Ukraine possesses approximately 11% of the uranium resources in the former Soviet Union.[1] In 1991-92, the two processing centers in Ukraine produced 1000 tons of uranium. The uranium industry is designed to meet the uranium requirements of Ukraine and to develop a base for export sales. The Ukrainian uranium production companies report to the Ministry of Machine Building, Military-Industrial Complex, and Conversion. Exploration and resource estimation and development are the governed by the State owned Geologic Enterprise "Kirovgeology", which reports to the State Committee of Geology and Utilization of Mineral Resources ("Derzhkomgeologyi Ukrainy").[2]
Sources:
[1] Enerpresse, No. 6036, 16 March 1994
[2]"Uranium: 1993 Production Resources and Demand," A Joint Report by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency, 1994.
[3] Interview with Mykhailo Umanets, "Goskomatom Speaks," NUKEM, August 1995.

EASTERN (SKHIDNYI) MINING AND CONVERSION COMBINE
Ukrainian: Skhidnyi Hirno-Zbahachyvalniy Kombinat; Russian: Vostochnyy Gorno-Obogatitelnyy Kombinat (VostGOK)
LOCATION: Zhovti Vody
DIRECTOR: Mykhailo Babak
DEPUTY DIRECTOR: Oleksandr P. Nekrachevich
ACTIVITIES:
This mill, first operational in 1959, sells the uranium oxide concentrate U3O8, known as yellowcake.[1] The plant supplies the raw material for domestic reactor fuel, and uranium sales provide hard currency to buy Western equipment and parts for Ukrainian nuclear power plants.[2] This combine is the largest in the former Soviet Union's military industrial complex. The plant is fed by uranium mining operations in the Kirovograd region. According to the Chief Geologist Arnold Vasiliev, the Combine processes 500,000 to 1,500,000 tons of uranium ore per year, (with typical uranium concentrations of 0.08 to 0.2 percent) into U3O8. The amount of ore processed is set by the government.[3] In 1993, the IAEA put reasonably assured resources at 82,000 tU and the annual production of uranium at 1000 tU. Total uranium reserves of deposits currently operative or scheduled for operation exceed 200,000 tU, [2] which is estimated to be enough to support the domestic nuclear fuel cycle for at least one hundred years.[4]
Sources:
[1]"Datafile: Ukraine," Nuclear Engineering International, April 1996, pp. 10-16.
[2]"Uranium: 1993 Production Resources and Demand," A Joint Report by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency, 1994.
[3] Arnold Vasiliev, "Unearthing Ukraine's Uranium," NUKEM, August 1995, p. 10
[4] Interview with Mykhailo Umanets, "Goskomatom Speaks," NUKEM, August 1995.

COMMENTS:
The Skhidnyi Combine reportedly was closed in 1991 but was reopened in 1992. Uranium itself is no longer mined in this region since it is considered too deep and too costly. Gold is produced at this site now. According to the Combine's Chief Geologist, Zhovti Vody was mined out in 1989 and the Pervomaysk Deposit was depleted even earlier.[1,2,3,4]
Sources:
[1] Yanina Sokolovskaya, "Urania: Ukraine's Special Zone," Izvestiya, 2 June 1995, p. 5.
[2] Arnold Vasiliev, "Unearthing Ukraine's Uranium," NUKEM, August 1995, p. 11.
[3] "Eurasia," NUEXCO Review, 1993, p. 68.
[4] "Republics' Locations of Nuclear Materials Eyed," FBIS-SOV-92-034, 20 February 1992, p. 8.

DNIPRO BASIN CHEMICAL PLANT
(Russian: Pridneprovskiy Khimicheskiy Zavod)
LOCATION: Dniprodzerzhynsk
"Uranium: 1993 Production Resources and Demand," A Joint Report by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Association, 1994.
ACTIVITIES:
This facility was used at least until 1993 to process uranium and produce U3O8.[1] It was known as the Dneprodzerzhinsk Special Combine during the Soviet era.[2] In the 1990s the plant developed zirconium production technologies,[3] and processed zirconium from a mine near the city of Volnogorsk, the only zirconium mine in the former Soviet Union. Dnipro Basin Chemical Plant and the Volnogorsk mine have the capacity to meet all of Ukraine's long-term zirconium demand.[4] The facility was also considered as a site for gold ore processing.[5] As of early 2001 the plant was undergoing restructuring; 11 new companies were created. They include the Baryer plant, which is tasked with cleaning up the 36 million tons of radioactive waste accumulated on the site.[6,7]
Sources:
[1] "Uranium: 1993 Production Resources and Demand," A Joint Report by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Association, 1994.
[2] Vladimir Ovdin, "Yadernyy mogilnik mozhet 'poplyt'," Zerkalo nedeli, 6 May 2000; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.
[3] Konstantin Zvarych, "Ukrainskim AES--'yadernoye toplivo'," Zerkalo nedeli, 18 July 1997; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.
[4] Interview with Mykhailo Umanets, "Goskomatom Speaks," NUKEM, August 1995.
[5] Leonid Glok, "V Dneprodzerzhinske budet poluchen pervyy slitok zakarpatskogo zolota," 4 September 1998; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.
[6] "Sozdayetsya gospredpriyatiye dlya rekultivatsii otvalov byvshego proizvodstva obogashchennogo urana,"UNIAN, 26 February 2001; in Integrum-Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/.
[7] "V Ukraine 7 tys. 541 obekt potentsialno opasen dlya zhizni i deyatelnosti lyudey," UNIAN, 26 February 2001; in Integrum-Techno, http://www.integrum.ru/. {Updated 5/15/2001 MJ}

URANIUM DEPOSITS AND MINING
There are currently 21 identified uranium deposits in Ukraine. According to 1993 figures, they are (from largest to smallest deposits): Severinske, Vatutinske, Michurinske, Kalynovske, Yuzhnoye (Pivdenne), Safonivske, Zhovtorichenske, Adamovske, Markovske, Lozovatske, Mykolokozelske, Bratske, Mykolayivske, Novogurievske, Devladoske, Surske, Berekske, Chervonooskolske, Sadovokostyantynivske, Chervonoyarske, and Pervomayske. The greatest deposits are concentrated in two principal underground uranium mining districts, both located near Zhovti Vody: Kirovohradska Oblast and Kryvyy Rih Oblast. There are two additional uranium districts located in Central Ukraine: Novokostyantynivskyi and Pobuzhskyi.[1] Two mines are currently in operation:Vatutininski and Ingulskyi.[2] The Vatutinskyi mine is located near the Zhovti Vody combine in the town of Smolino and is the largest uranium mine in the Ukraine.[3] The deposits at this mine, the Yuzhnoye (Pivdenne) and Kalinovske deposits, should be sufficient for 25 years.[4,5] The Ingulskyi mine, on the outskirts of Kirovohrad, is located 40 km from the Novokostyantynivskyi mine and 150 km from the Smolino mine.[3] The deposits at this mine, the Michurinske and Severinske deposits, should last for approximately 15 years.[4,5] The Novokostyantynivskyi mine taps the largest known uranium deposit in Ukraine.[3] Reportedly, new deposits will be opened in early 1996, at which point Ukraine's uranium output will double.[6] This will allow Ukraine to meet domestic demand and to export uranium as well.[7,8] The Tsentralnyi mine has been mined out. The Severinski mine may be brought into operation after 2010.[1]
Sources:
[1] Arnold Vasiliev, "Unearthing Ukraine's Uranium," NUKEM, August 1995, p. 10.; "Uranium: 1993 Production Resources and Demand," A Joint Report by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency, 1994.
[2] New Uranium Mining Projects, http://antenna.nl/~wise/wupuproj.html#Ukraine, December 1996.
[3]Yanina Sokolovskaya, "Urania: Ukraine's Special Zone," Izvestiya, 2 June 1995, p. 5.
[4] Olena Zvarych, "For Ukraine to Have Its Own Nuclear Fuel We Have to 'Activate the Process'," Ukrayina moloda, 24 April 1995, p. 4; in "Uranium Mining, Nuclear Fuel Cycle Viewed," FBIS-SOV-95-089, 28 April 1995.
[5] "Uranium: 1993 Production Resources and Demand," A Joint Report by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency, 1994.
[6]"Kiev to Double Uranium Output," UNIAN, 18 October 1995; in "Ukraine," FBIS-SOV-95-202, 18 October 1995.
[7] NUCLEAR ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL, 1/96, p. 6.
[8] "New Uranium Source," Nuclear Engineering International, January 1996, p. 6.

URANIUM MINING AND MILLING DEVELOPMENTS

This section is no longer being updated.

6/9/2000: URANIUM PRODUCTION CAPACITY TO BE INCREASED
On 9 June 2000 the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers approved plans to increase the uranium production capacity of the Vostochnyy Mining and Enrichment Plant by utilizing uranium ores from the Novokostyantynivskiy deposits located in Kirivohrad Oblast. Once the expansion is complete the plant will be able to process 500,000 metric tons of uranium ore and produce 1,500 metric tons of uranium products annually. Work on increasing the plant's capacity is expected to last nine years. The expanded capacity is expected to make it possible for Ukraine to satisfy all of its demand for nuclear fuel with domestic production. ["Ukrainskiy Vostochnyy GOK uvelichit moshchnost za shchet novogo mestorozhdeniya urana," Interfax, No.2, 27 June 2000.] {Entered 7/12/00 MJ}

9/9/96: SKHIDNYI COMBINE WILL TRANSPORT U3O8 TO US COMPANY NUKEM
It was reported that the Skhidnyi (Vostochnyi) Combine will transport U3O8 to the US company Nukem under the terms of a 7/96 contract signed by both enterprises. The Skhidnyi officials emphasized that 50 percent of the proceeds from this deal will be allocated to purchase equipment to provide safety measures at Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
[UX WEEKLY, 9/9/96, p. 3, in UI NEWS BRIEFING 96.37, 9/11/96-9/17/96.]

1996: DERZHKOMATOM ANNOUNCES PLANTS TO TRIPLE URANIUM PRODUCTION
["Ukraine," Nuclear Engineering International, 6/96.] {Entered 10/10/96 GN}

1995: UKRAINE'S FUTURE PRODUCTION TO BE USED ENTIRELY IN NUCLEAR GENERATING PROGRAM
Ukraine's mining facilities put out one million pounds of U3O8 in 1995. Some Ukrainian uranium was exported in 1995, but it is expected that Ukraine's future production will be used entirely in its nuclear generating program.
["Suspension Agreements: The Status Quo," The Nuclear Review, 1/96, pp. 13-19.]

11/11/95: CIS MUST DEVELOP INTERSTATE EFFORTS IN URANIUM MINING AND MILLING
According to the latest Russian figures, 30-35% of the aggregate uranium usage in the CIS can be claimed by Ukraine. According to Minatom figures, 8-10% of CIS uranium ore deposits can be found in Ukraine. This article states that, among other factors, a reported freeze on CTR funds leads to the conclusion that the CIS must develop interstate efforts in the mining and milling of uranium.
[Aleksey Chicken, "Uranovyy Sled," Rossiyskaya Gazeta, 11/11/95, p. 14.]

10/12/95: EUROPEAN FIRMS DO NOT NEED TO SPECIFY ORIGIN OF CIS STATES' URANIUM
Michael Goppel, the Director General of the Euratom Supply Agency, discussed sources of uranium in the CIS. He said that European firms purchasing uranium from CIS countries do not need to specify the origin of the uranium beyond stating that it is from a CIS state. According to Goppel, 33% of uranium deliveries to Europe--more than 4,000 tons in 1994--were supplied by CIS states.
["Interview: Michael Goppel, Director General Of The Euratom Supply Agency," NUKEM, 9/95, pp. 20-24.]

9/1/95: EASTERN MINING AND CONVERSION COMBINE IS READY TO EXPORT YELLOWCAKE
Mykhailo Babak, General Director of the Eastern Mining and Conversion Combine, stated that he is ready to consider contract proposals for the export of uranium yellowcake, although Ukraine "has no intention of becoming a leading uranium exporter." The exports would provide hard currency funding for future development. Derzhkomatom will put together a uranium reserve which will be used to produce nuclear fuel. Mykhailo Umanets, the Chairman of the Committee on the Use of Atomic Energy, supports the proposed expansion of the uranium industry and commented that the raw materials enterprise is key to the development of an independent nuclear fuel cycle in Ukraine.
["Ukraine to Expand Uranium Industry," Post-Soviet Nuclear and Defense Monitor, 9/1/95, p. 9; Interview with Mykhailo Babak, "The General Director Speaks," NUKEM, 8/95, pp. 13-17.]

9/95: UKRAINE AND TAJIKISTAN TERMINATED URANIUM SUSPENSION AGREEMENT
Ukraine and Tajikistan terminated their Uranium Suspension Agreements with the United States Department of Commerce which had been based on price-tied quotas.
["What Next? For the World Uranium Market," Nuclear Engineering International, 9/95, pp. 22-23.]

8/3/95: STATE COMMITTEE FOR USE OF ATOMIC ENERGY WILL PAY STRIKING MINERS
On 8/1/95, 12,000 uranium miners threatened to stage strikes for back-wages (from May) at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Anatoliy Kinakh. The Eastern Mining and Conversion Combine suspended its operations during the strike.[1] On 8/3/95, Kinakh reported that the Cabinet of Ministers had decided to allow the Combine to independently sell and export a portion of its refined uranium concentrate. The State Committee for the Use of Atomic Energy has been given a loan of KBV120 billion to pay the striking miners.[1]
[Volodymyr Zamanskyy, "'Enough!', the Miners told the Government Yesterday," Kyivskie Vedomosti, 8/2/95. pp. 1-2; "Uranium Miners Threaten to Strike, "INTELNEWS, 8/2/95.]
["Kirovohrad Plant Granted Right to Export Uranium," INFOBANK, 8/4/95.]

8/1/95: NEGOTIATIONS UNDERWAY ON JOINT DEVELOPMENT OF UKRAINIAN URANIUM DEPOSITS
According to the State Committee for the Use of Atomic Energy, negotiations with the French company Cogema are underway on joint development of Ukrainian uranium ore deposits.
["Nuclear Power Plants Show Drop in Regime Violations," INTERFAX, 8/1/95.]

8/95: EASTERN MINING COMBINE PLANS TO INCREASE PRODUCTION
The Eastern Mining and Conversion combine plans to increase production by a factor of 2.5 over the next 10 years in order to meet domestic requirements for a nuclear fuel cycle. This increased demand will be met by development at the Novokostyantynivske deposit and continued production at the Tsentralnyi deposit. The Severinske deposit will be brought into production after 2010 if necessary.
[Arnold Vasiliev, "Unearthing Ukraine's Uranium," NUKEM, 8/95, pp. 9-1]

4/4/94: EXTRACTION AND PROCESSING OF URANIUM ARE NOT CONTROLLED
ITAR-TASS quoted Kostyantyn Rudya, Deputy Head of Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety at the Ukrainian Ministry of Environmental Protection, as saying that the extraction and processing of uranium in Ukraine were not controlled. On 4/8/94 ITAR-TASS ran another story in which Rudya denied "press reports" that the uranium industry is not controlled. Rudya stressed that problems in the uranium industry were inherited from the old Soviet Ministry of Medium Machine Building, but that Ukraine is correcting these problems. For example, Ukraine is working on the creation of an early warning radiation control system.
[ITAR-TASS (Moscow), 4/4/94, in "Uranium Industry Lacks Safety Controls," FBIS-SOV-94-064, 4/4/94, p. 50; and ITAR-TASS (Moscow), 4/8/94, in "Official Denies Report On Unsafe Uranium Processing," FBIS-SOV-94-069, 4/11/94, p. 34.]

8/6/93: HEU FROM UKRAINE WILL BE IMPORTED WITHOUT DUTIES
The US Commerce Department finished its dumping investigation. This resulted in a 129.29% duty against any uranium of Ukrainian origin. The ruling also determined that HEU from Ukraine could be imported without duties. The duty would remain in place at least through 1/96.
["Suspension Agreements: The Status Quo," The Nuclear Review, 1/96, pp. 13-19.]

4/12/93: DUMPING INVESTIGATION IS RESUMED
Ukraine terminated its suspension agreement with the United States. As a result, the dumping investigation was resumed.
["Suspension Agreements: The Status Quo," The Nuclear Review, 1/96, pp. 13-19.]

10/21/92: US COMMERCE DEPARTMENT SUSPENDS URANIUM ANTI-DUMPING INVESTIGATIONS
The US Commerce Department decided to suspend its uranium anti-dumping investigations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan as long as a price-based quota, starting when the US market price is $13/lb for U3O8, is imposed. The investigation was filed by an ad hoc group of US uranium miners and the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers Union. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan also signed agreements but no quotas were established since these republics do not have uranium mines. If they open any mines at a later date, quotas may be set. This agreement will remain in force until October 15, 2000.
["CIS Republics Sign U Suspension Agreement to End Antidumping Agreement," Nuclear Fuel, October 21, 1994, pp. 1-6.]

10/16/92: UKRAINE TERMINATES SUSPENSION AGREEMENT WITH UNITED STATES
The US Department of Commerce signed suspension agreements with Ukraine and five other CIS countries. The agreements waived high import duties against CIS uranium. Later, Ukraine terminated its suspension agreements (see 9/95).
["Suspension Agreements: The Status Quo," The Nuclear Review, 1/96, pp. 13-19; "Clogging the Enrichment Bypass," NUKEM, 5/95, p. 4.]

5/92: IMPORT-DUTY MARGINS FOR URANIUM IMPORTS FROM UKRAINE
Allegations against the former Soviet Union of unfair dumping of natural and enriched uranium in the United States resulted in import-duty margins in 5/92 for uranium imports from Ukraine and five other countries. Ukraine at that time was reported to be a net importer of uranium.
["What Next? For the World Uranium Market," Nuclear Engineering International, 9/95, pp. 22-23.]

This section is no longer being updated.

	Updated April 2005