OREANDA-NEWS. November 26, 2008. A scientific-technical conference “Nuclear Fuel of New Generation for Nuclear Power Plants: OPERATING Experience and Development Prospects” took place at A.Bochvar All-Russian Research Institute of Non-Organic Materials (VNIINM). The conference was organized by TVEL and VNIINM.

Over 250 specialists of leading Russian research and development organizations – Gidropress, OKBM, IPPE, Kurchatov Institute, NIIAR, NIKIET, Lutch, VNIIHT, VNIITFA and TVEL plants (Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrate Plant, Mashinostroitelny Zavod, Chepetsk Mechanical Plant) – took part in the conference.

They discussed the development priorities of the nuclear industry of Russia and heard reports on modern requirements to the technical-economic parameters of fuel and fuel cycles for existing and projected nuclear power plants, fuel for innovative reactors, fuel assemblies for different types of reactors. Representatives of TVEL Corporation presented its development strategy during a roundtable.

While opening the conference, Deputy Director of Atomenergoprom OJSC Vladislav Korogodin pointed out that highly advanced science made Russia one of the leaders in the field of nuclear power engineering.

President of TVEL OJSC Yuri Olenin said that TVEL’s recent achievements on the WWER market, particularly, the company’s victories in tenders for complex deliveries of fuel for Finnish, Hungarian, Czech and Slovak nuclear power plants.

“Today’s obstacles should be turned into a resource for development,” Olenin said. He pointed out that science and industry needed tighter cooperation. One of the key tasks is attraction of young specialists in the sector: “This is possible only if they see that here they have wide opportunities,” Olnin said.

Director General of VNIINM Alexander Putilov also pointed out the need of tighter cooperation between manufacturing and research companies. “Today, VNIINM is actively promoting its advanced technologies and is seeking to develop new improved types of nuclear fuel,” Putilov said.

Today, TVEL is spending big money on promising innovative projects, purchase of equipment, reproduction and enlargement of personnel, creation of new jobs. The question is not only about financing of research and development projects but also support of experiments and innovations.TVEL is sure that no economic breakthrough is possible without mutual integration and close cooperation of industry and science. Only by integrating its industry and science will Russia be able to strengthen its positions on the world nuclear technologies market.