OREANDA-NEWS. September 24, 2014. Xcel Energy and AREVA have extended a nuclear fuel and services contract to supply the Monticello nuclear power plant in Minnesota.

Covering the period 2017-2029, this contract includes the supply of natural uranium, conversion and enrichment services, as well as the fabrication and delivery of fuel assemblies.

Under the new contract terms, AREVA will provide two fuel reloads in addition to the six initially planned in the previous contract, signed in 2012. This contract also includes the delivery of AREVA’s ATRIUMTM 10XM fuel assembly, dedicated to boiling water reactors (BWR).  Already used in more than one-third of BWR reactors in the world, the ATRIUM design delivers superior thermal performance and optimum fuel weight which provides savings in uranium, conversion, enrichment, fuel handling and optimizes outage duration and used fuel management costs.

“The extension of this contract reinforces the partnership between Xcel Energy and AREVA for the long term. This demonstrates the importance of AREVA’s integrated business model and the company’s ability to meet the evolving needs of its customers,” said Gary Mignogna, chief executive officer of AREVA Inc.