WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Demchyshyn explained that Turkey is increasing its consumption of all energy resources and Ukraine has the technology needed to cooperate with Ankara on energy projects such as nuclear reactors and gas pipelines.
"Unfortunately, Ukraine cannot fully participate, because we do not have certain technologies, but it can be a subcontractor in these projects," Demchyshyn stated in an interview on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC on Thursday.
Ukraine, he noted, is planning to discuss future projects with the United States.
"We plan a meeting with [US Secretary of Energy Ernest] Moniz. We have to address general questions, like the status of reforms, US support of some nuclear projects," Demchyshyn said.
Russia and Turkey signed an agreement to construct and operate Turkey’s first nuclear power plant at the Akkuyu site in the Turkish southern Mersin Province in May 2010. The plant is expected to produce about 35 billion kilowatt-hours per year. The project's cost is estimated at about $20 billion.
The future of the joint project has been called into question amid increased tensions between Russia and Turkey due to the November 2015 Turkish downing of a Russian Su-24 frontline bomber over Syria.
