OREANDA-NEWS. TVEL FC, Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation (JNPC), and China Nuclear Energy Industry Corporation (CNEIC) signed a contract for supply of nuclear fuel for the initial loading of the 3rd and 4th units of the Tianwan NPP, and six complete refueling sets for the 3rd unit of the Tianwan NPP, and a contract for supply of accessories for fabrication of fuel for all 4 units of the Tianwan NPP at the Yibin Fuel Factory.

This contract provides for scheduled deliveries of TVS-2M fresh nuclear fuel and accessories until 2025. Total value of the contract amounts to more than USD 1 bln.

The modern nuclear fuel modifications ensure the 18-month fuel cycle operation of the VVER-1000 units. Since 2011, a pilot batch of six TVS-2M has been loaded into the 1st unit of the Tianwan NPP, China. Following the results of the successful reactor testing in September 2013, the NNSA, Chinese regulatory body, issued a license for operation of TVS-2M. Due to the profitable cooperation of the Russian and Chinese specialists, and the results achieved during the operation of the pilot batch of TVS-2M at the 1st unit of the Tianwan NPP, the 1st and 2nd units of the Tianwan NPP are scheduled to be converted to the 18-month fuel cycle operation in 2014. The fuel of the new modification of TVS-2M will be used beginning with the first loading of the reactor core in the 3rd and 4th units under construction of the Tianwan NPP.

The TVS-2M has been successfully used in Russia: at the moment all units of the Balakovo and Rostov NPPs use this fuel.

Within the scope of cooperation of TVEL JSC, CIAE and CNEIC for supply of fuel for the CEFR research reactor, TVEL Fuel Company plans the next fuel deliveries in March 2014. The value of deliveries amounts to about USD 60 mln.