OREANDA-NEWS. TVEL Corporation took part in the International Conference “Nuclear Power in Europe” organized by Platts in Prague (the Czech Republic) on May 3-4. Deputy Executive Director of JSC TVEL Vladimir Troyanov presented to the conference on the Modern Trends in Nuclear Fuel Upgrading for Eastern Europe.

In his presentation he outlined main steps in improving characteristics of the Russian fuel. V. Troyanov focused on advantages of the upgraded Russian fuel for VVER-440 reactor, which allows nuclear power plants to shift to a fuel cycle which significantly increases fuel consumption efficiency.

Conference participants paid a special attention to prospects of nuclear power development in Europe. Together with JSC TVEL, JSC Atomstroyexport was representing the Russian nuclear industry at the conference.

TVEL Corporation pays much attention to upgrading of nuclear fuel. Since 2003 in has supplied the second generation fuel to Dukovany NPP that helped to improve competitiveness of the Russian nuclear fuel in the Czech market. This fuel has allowed the plant to shift from the four-year campaign to five-year one. A fuel campaign extension makes good economics and saves space for spent nuclear fuel storage. Economic effect of such campaign change amounts up to billion of korunas. It is planned to shift all four Dukovany reactors to the new fuel in 2008.

In 2006 JSC TVEL won the tender for nuclear fuel supply to the second Czech nuclear power plant - Temelin. It is to receive TVSA-T fuel which features higher leaktightness and economics.