China, Slovakia to cooperate on nuclear fuel cycle

Wednesday, 25 November 2015

China and Slovakia will cooperate on developing the nuclear fuel cycle supply chain under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed yesterday between the two countries.

The signing of the MOU (Image: Slovak economy ministry)

The MOU was signed during the fourth meeting on cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe, held this week in Suzhou, China. Its signing was witnessed by Slovak Economy Minister Vazil Hudak and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) chief economist Huang Mingang.

The MOU calls for "cooperation in the field of civil nuclear industry fuel cycle supply chain" between Slovak nuclear power plant research institute VUJE, Slovakia's economy ministry, CNNC and the China Atomic Energy Authority.

CNNC said today in a statement that the signing of the MOU followed similar agreements with France and the UK and is part of a "major strategic initiative" to develop a "comprehensive European nuclear industry supply chain".

In a statement, the Slovak economy ministry said: "The Chinese partners confirmed their interest in cooperation with the Slovak nuclear energy industry in the whole nuclear fuel cycle, i.e. from nuclear fuel supply through the construction and management of nuclear installations to decommissioning of nuclear facilities."

It added, "The Chinese side also proposed cooperation in nuclear projects in third countries, as China is already building or planning to build nuclear plants in Asia, South America, Africa and Europe."

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News