June 27, 2007 (LPAC)--Nations throughout Asia, Eastern Europe, and elsewhere continue to move ahead, and form new alliances and cooperation agreements to start nuclear programs, and expand capabilities:

-- Indonesia has successfully operated three nuclear research reactors, the head of Indonesia's National Atomic Energy Agency told reporters at a seminar on nuclear waste management held June 26 in Jakarta. It is now prepared to start building its first power plant by 2010. Alternative energy sources are not practical, as they have high generating and technology costs, Hudi Hastowo said.

-- Indian Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar told journalists on June 26 that India will become self-sufficient in nuclear power production. He spoke at the opening of a new uranium mine and processing mill. India plans to focus on a domestic supply of uranium, and cut down its imports.

-- The Commonwealth of Independent States held the ninth meeting of its commission for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy on June 26 in Minsk. Russian Atomic Energy representative, Andrei Malyshev, told the host country that Belarus has the necessary conditions to build a nuclear plant, including water for cooling and favorable geologic structure. Russia has offered to build Belarus its first nuclear plant.

-- Ukraine and South Korea have signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the use of nuclear energy, which will include investment in, and sharing of, advanced technology by South Korea's nuclear plant pipe producer in new Ukrainian pipe production facilities. Ukraine was a major supplier of nuclear power plant equipment in the former Soviet Union.

-- Pakistan will soon be able to produce its own low-enriched uranium fuel for its civilian nuclear power plants. The fuel will be used for its Chinese-designed operating plants, and the indigenous nuclear plants Pakistan plans to manufacture.

-- In Finland, where the first nuclear power plant to be built in Europe in more than a decade is under construction, local municipal governments are asking nuclear plant operator Fortum to consider them as sites for additional nuclear plants. Five to six sites will be chosen in July.