29 Feb (NucNet): Westinghouse Electric Company has signed a contract with utility ČEZ to supply six lead test assemblies (LTAs) for the Russian-designed VVER reactors at Temelín nuclear power station in the Czech Republic, the company said today.
Westinghouse said Temelín has “a unique fuel design” and careful testing with limited fuel introduction over a period of two years is needed to ensure safe compatibility with existing fuel.
Westinghouse will manufacture the LTAs at its facility in Västerås, Sweden.
Five countries – Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary and Slovakia – operate Russian reactors and are currently “100 percent dependent on fuel supply from Russia”, Westinghouse said.
José Emeterio Gutiérrez, Westinghouse senior vice-president for nuclear fuel and components manufacturing, said the decision by ČEZ to launch an LTA programme for Temelín is significant.
“It demonstrates that ČEZ is serious about taking measures to improve its security of supply and through a diversification of its nuclear fuel sources.”
The two Temelín VVER-320 reactors were designed by Russian organisations and built by VSB with engineering by Skoda Praha.
