Framatome, ČEZ to collaborate on VVER-1000 fuel development
France's Framatome has signed a memorandum of understanding with Czech utility ČEZ on the development of fuel for VVER-1000 pressurised water reactors. ČEZ operates two VVER-1000 units at its Temelín plant.
ČEZ - which also operates four VVER-440 reactors at its Dukovany plant - began a process of diversifying its fuel suppliers with a 2018 tender process, with contracts signed in 2022 for Westinghouse and Framatome relating to Temelín, and a 2023 contract with Westinghouse for Dukovany. It has previously received fuel supplied by Russia's TVEL.
"We are pleased to take another step in the development of a Framatome own-design VVER-1000 fuel design, with a view to ensuring the safe, reliable and uninterrupted operation of the VVER nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic and beyond," said Lionel Gaiffe, senior executive vice president of the Fuel Business Unit at Framatome. "Framatome is the fuel supplier which can guarantee a 100% sovereign European technology, with a fully European design and product, and manufacturing facilities and a fuel component supply chain located and operated in the EU."
"The first key step to strengthen the energy security of the Czech Republic taken by ČEZ Group was ensuring fuel deliveries and increasing the number of fuel suppliers," said Bohdan Zronek, director of the nuclear energy division for ČEZ. "Another step is the collaboration on the new fuel development with Framatome. ČEZ Group has long been focused on enhancing the safety and efficiency of its nuclear power plants, as well as ensuring their operation for at least 60 years. These initiatives are part of our strategy that aligns with our strategic direction."
In 2022, ČEZ also decided to increase its fuel reserves stored at its nuclear power plants, to boost energy security and it says the new fuel types meet the requirements of the switch to longer fuel cycles - of 16 months at Dukovany and 18 months at Temelín.
Nineteen VVER reactors - developed during the time of the Soviet Union and historically reliant on Russian fuel supplies - are currently in operation in the EU, including four VVER-1000 reactors in Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, and 15 VVER-440 reactors in the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary and Slovakia.
"The international context has accelerated the need for a Framatome sovereign VVER fuel design to reduce the risk of interruption in the supply of critical services and to reduce dependency on imports from outside of Europe," Framatome said.
It said it was advancing the development of a fully European sovereign nuclear fuel product for both VVER-440 and VVER-1000 reactors, with the support and cooperation of European VVER operators. Framatome has been working on its own-design fuel for VVER reactors since 2018. The company has three nuclear fuel fabrication facilities: Romans in France; Lingen in Germany and Richland in the USA.
ČEZ selected Westinghouse in February 2016 to supply six Lead Test Assemblies for the Temelín plant. In August 2018, ČEZ announced plans to test six Westinghouse fuel rods in unit 1 of the plant.
Temelín has a unique fuel design operating currently and therefore careful testing with limited fuel introduction over a period of two years was required to ensure safe compatibility with existing fuel. Westinghouse has developed a modified Robust Westinghouse Fuel Assembly design for use at Temelín. The new design includes fewer spacer grids for the assembly to be compatible with non-Westinghouse fuel, and material upgrades to further improve fuel economy and performance.
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