Ukraine may eventually become a supplier of nuclear fuel based on the technology of American Westinghouse to European countries, Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko said during a visit to a Ukrainian enterprise where it is planned to assemble nuclear fuel (fuel assemblies (FAs) – IFU) for Russian-made VVER-1000 and VVER-440 reactors on March 16.
“Ukraine, having rejected Russian nuclear fuel, has switched its nuclear power units to nuclear fuel from the American manufacturer Westinghouse. The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland and Bulgaria have also expressed their desire to make such a transition. Ukraine may become a supplier of nuclear fuel for these countries in the future,” he said.
According to the Minister, during the first stage of setting up production of fuel assemblies of Westinghouse technology at the Ukrainian company, we are going to produce their components within two years. In particular, it is planned to finish licensing and to start commercial production of shanks in 2023 and fuel cassettes’ heads in 2024. These components will be used to produce nuclear fuel for Energoatom’s needs at Westinghouse’s facility in Vesteros in Sweden.
As Peter Kotin, president of NAEK Energoatom, complemented the minister, the company plans to establish its own nuclear fuel production line in three years in general.
“It is planned that in three years we will reach the full cycle of nuclear fuel production in Ukraine. 2026 is the date when we will be able to fully produce our Ukrainian fuel from components made here. And the elements which we cannot produce we will buy from our partners,” explained Kotin.
He also noted the importance of production of nuclear fuel for VVER-440 type reactors which used to be produced only by Russia.
Currently there are 17 VVER-440 reactors functioning in Europe, which have no alternative to Russian fuel so far, and after setting up production of fuel assemblies for VVER-1000 reactors Ukraine will start to produce fuel for VVER-440 reactors as well.
Energoatom CEO emphasized that together with its strategic partner Westinghouse the company may then become an alternative supplier of nuclear fuel for other European countries which use Soviet-type reactors, such as Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland and Bulgaria.
In turn, according to Galushchenko, Ukraine is one of the world leaders in nuclear power engineering and currently Ukrainian nuclear specialists together with their American partners are working to oust Russia from the world market of nuclear technologies.
As the NAEK informed, cooperation between Energoatom and Westinghouse on nuclear fuel production began in August 2018 when the American partner began qualifying one of NAEK’s separate divisions as a supplier of TVS-WR heads and liners. During 2019-2020, work was organized to produce them for Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB fuel assemblies.
In April 2022, the first batch of head components was manufactured and shipped to Westinghouse for qualification.
As reported, in March 2022, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Energoatom completely abandoned the purchase of Russian nuclear fuel.
“Energoatom and Westinghouse signed an agreement on June 2, 2022 to supply nuclear fuel to all Ukrainian nuclear power plants with 15 power units.
