OREANDA-NEWS. December 22, 2009. JSC TVEL (100% affiliate of JSC Atomenergoprom) has conducted preliminary review of its foreign economic activity in 2009 and pointed out the key results of work in foreign markets.

In 2009 the Russian manufacturer of nuclear fuel fulfilled all its commitments to foreign customers in full. Strategically JSC TVEL’s activity was based on recording and meeting clients’ demands which have once again justified mutually beneficial cooperation.

In February JSC TVEL entered into long-term contracts to supply 2000 tons of fuel pellets made of natural uranium dioxide for heavy water reactors in India (PHWR), and 58 tons of low-enriched uranium pellets for fabrication of fuel for units 1 and 2 of Tarapur NPP where boiling water reactors (BWR) operate. The total revenues from these contracts will make about USD 700m within five years. Negotiations with Indian partners are currently being held to expand cooperation through to joint fabrication of nuclear fuel for different reactor types.

In May 2009 JSC TVEL’s affiliate JSC Mashinostroitelny Zavod fabricated the 2000-th fuel assembly for western type reactors in accordance with AREVA NP specifications. The Russian manufacturer has received no reclamation for quality. Following the result of meetings held in 2009 and negotiations at TVEL and AREVA management board level agreements were reached on a number of new and attractive projects planned to start next year.

In 2009 TVEL started supplying nuclear fuel to the first unit of Temelin NPP after CEZ made the decision to conduct a pre-schedule discharging of American fuel from this unit. High technical and economic features of Russian fuel have predetermined CEZ’s decision to conduct the pre-scheduled discharging from the second unit of Temelin NPP and replacing it by Russian fuel from 2011. In 2010 JSC TVEL is planning to sign fuel contracts to fully load the unit.

Slovak NPP operator’s management board has made the decision to enter into a contract with JSC TVEL to supply fuel for NPP Mohovce’s units 3 and 4 being constructed at present. The business contract is ready for signing, the ceremony will be held in the beginning of the next year.

Last year the company supplied Hungarian Paks NPP with experimental new generation fuel assemblies. Following the results of run-in operation Hungarian supervisory authority granted approval to use new fuel at Paks NPP starting from 2010.

In 2009 a cooperation agreement was signed with another European NPP operator to license TVS-Kvadrat fuel assemblies for another Western European country. Negotiations with other foreign partners are in progress in order to supply TVS-Kvadrat for US and Asian nuclear fuel markets.

This year a long-term contract has been negotiated and prepared for signing to supply fuel for Ukrainian NPPs after 2010. The document stipulates providing Russian fuel assemblies for at least 12 reactors within 12 years. Investment justification has been elaborated for the project of a standard regional fuel fabrication plant to be built abroad. JSC TVEL intends to participate in a tender to be held in Ukraine to choose a partner for plant construction. Besides this the Russian nuclear fuel manufacturer has managed to considerably succeed in negotiations concerning this project with other European countries. The license agreement to transfer the technology of stainless fuel assemblies’ fabrication to Ukraine is being successfully implemented. The first qualification consignment is planned for 2010.

JSC TVEL has continued cooperation with a Canadian state company AECL (Atomic Energy of Canada Limited) to qualify OJSC ChMZ as the supplier of pressure tubes for CANDU reactors. In 2010 OJSC TVEL is planning to sign a contract to supply pressure tubes for Canada to be used in modernization technology for this reactor type designed and exported by AECL.

In 2009 a contract with South Korean company KNF to supply a qualification consignment of Korean HANA zirconium alloy tube shells.