Moscow, 27 March - Neftegaz.RU. TVEL (fuel division of Rosatom) and Fortum Power and Heat Oy (Finland) have signed an addendum to the existing fuel supply contract, which is aimed at development of improved 2nd-generation fuel assemblies for VVER-440 reactors at 2 power units of Loviisa NPP.
Within the project Russian engineers will develop a new modification of fuel assemblies with increased uranium capacity and optimized water uranium balance compared to assemblies currently used at Loviisa NPP. This would enhance the economic efficiency of the power units.
The contract between TVEL and Fortum Power and Heat Oy embraces the supply of nuclear fuel to both power units of Loviisa NPP throughout their lifetime. Modern 2nd-generation uranium-gadolinium fuel for VVER-440 reactors is produced by Machinery plant (a fabrication enterprise of TVEL Fuel company in Elektrostal, Moscow region).
«TVEL Fuel Company works continuously to create and offer to its customers new models and modifications of nuclear fuel. 2nd-generation jacket fuel bundles for VVER-440, which were proposed for Loviisa NPP and Paks NPP in Hungary, are based on the same technical solution. However, the implementation of each project would comply with the individual requirements of our customers in terms of fuel cycles strategy,» said Alexander Ugryumov, Vice-President for R&D at TVEL.
