Natalya Shumkova deputy fuel and energy minister of Ukraine said that Russia’s state run nuclear fuel manufacturer TVEL has been the sole supplier of nuclear fuel to Ukrainian rectors, but Kiev is currently negotiating with US firm Westinghouse on cooperation in 2010.

She said that Ukraine’s state-run nuclear power utility, Energoatom, and TVEL were currently discussing a short-term contract for supplies in 2009, a longer term deal for deliveries from 2010, an agreement on the purchase by TVEL of uranium concentrate for enrichment purposes, and a memorandum of intent to build a nuclear fuel production facility in Ukraine.