Jean said that it was up to Canada and other industrialized nations to assist Ukraine find permanent solutions to the dire, ongoing consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
Jean said, It is clear that we are exploring ways to see what Canada has to offer in terms of alternative energy technologies, including the CANDU reactor it has developed.
Ukraine’s leaders were considering CANDU very seriously, which could probably represent an interesting alternative as it uses uranium, a resource available to Ukraine.
We are also trying to see how enriched uranium from old reactors could be recycled … and work towards energy sufficiency, the independence that Ukraine wants to achieve and sees as crucial.
Ukraine generates around half its power from a network of 15 nuclear reactors. The plans call for construction of at least two new reactors, but the reactors are to be based on a Russian design.
Ukraine imports around 80% of its energy from Russia, including nuclear fuel, and its self-reliance came into focus when OAO Gazprom has cut off supplies for more than two weeks in January.
The authorities in Kiev have since called on the European Union to assist finance upgrades to the gas transport system. Around fifth of Europe’s gas needs come from Russia via Ukraine. Moscow says it wants to be part of any plan to develop the network.
