Enusa awarded new fuel contract for Spanish PWRs

Friday, 14 December 2018

Under the contract, the value of which has not been disclosed, Enusa will supply eleven reload batches to units 1 and 2 of the Asco plant, eight batches to units 1 and 2 of the Almaraz plant, and five batches to the Vandellos plant. Three utilities - Endesa, Iberdrola and Naturgy - have shares in the ownership of the five units.

"The recent agreement provides continuity to the previous contract between the utilities and Enusa, a comprehensive contract covering the nuclear fuel needs of the five reactors," Enusa said.

"In this respect, Enusa guarantees the supply of nuclear fuel batches for the afore-mentioned reloads, along with the corresponding core design and reload licensing analysis, as well as core monitoring and other engineering services," the company said. "Furthermore, Enusa will provide on-site fuel management services during the contract term, including fresh and irradiated fuel management during core reload activities."

Enusa president Jose Vicente Berlanga described the contract as "one of the most important milestones in Enusa's history". He said the contract was "a result of the rigour, seriousness and confidence in the relation with our customers, our commitment with R&D and innovation programmes, our dedication to services and products improvement, and the involvement and outstanding performance of Enusa's workforce."

Enusa signed a technology exchange agreement with Westinghouse for engineering applications and also for the manufacture of fuel assemblies. Its Juzbado nuclear fuel fabrication plant in Salamanca, commissioned in 1985, produces boiling water reactor (BWR) and pressurised water reactor fuel elements for Spain's reactors and also supplies other customers in Europe.

GNF Enusa Nuclear Fuel SA (Genusa) is jointly owned by Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas (a GE-led joint venture with Hitachi and Toshiba) as majority owner, and Enusa. It was set up in 1989 and markets BWR fuel in Europe.