Ukraine Applies for OECD Nuclear Energy Agency Membership Amidst Wartime Experience
Ukraine is formally applying for membership in the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This announcement was made by First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal at the Roadmaps to New Nuclear 2026 Ministerial Conference in Paris. Shmyhal emphasized that Ukraine's nuclear energy sector has accumulated unique experience over more than four years of full-scale war, which could be valuable to other nations. He highlighted the necessity of integrating security challenges into the design phase of nuclear facilities, including engineering shelters for critical components, multi-layered backup power supplies, and the ability to operate in an 'energy island' mode. Ukraine has also successfully transitioned away from Russian nuclear fuel, becoming the first to load alternative Westinghouse fuel into VVER-1000 and VVER-440 reactors and initiating domestic production of components for these fuel assemblies. This move is seen ...
