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Ukraine cannot pay for spent nuclear fuel disposal due to seizure of Energoatom accounts

KIEV, May 30. /TASS/. Ukraine does not pay for the spent nuclear fuel disposal due to seizure of accounts of Energoatom, the company’s spokesperson Ilona Zayets sain on Monday.

"The company's accounts are blocked, so the payments are not made," she noted. In March 2016, the Energoatom’s accounts and property in the total amount of 200 bln hryvnia ($7.95 bln) were seized, effectively blocking operations of the largest power generating company in Ukraine.

Rosatom Director for public policy on radioactive waste, spent nuclear fuel and nuclear decommissioning Oleg Kryukov said earlier that Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom has postposed nuclear waste disposal from Ukraine due to non-payment.

"There are problems related to Ukraine’s payments," he said, adding that "the first run has been postponed as the Russian side has not received advance payment for the disposal stipulated in the contract.

According to Kryukov, the company plans to continue disposal of spent nuclear fuel from Ukraine.

"We have a (nuclear waste disposal - TASS) contract with Ukraine, and we intend to continue cooperation with Ukraine though you know that they’re planning to deal with the problem independently," he said.

Earlier Rosatom said the seizure of accounts of Ukraine’s Energoatom might affect the schedule of nuclear fuel production for the country in the medium term.