Framatome Will Supply Fuel for VVER Nuclear Reactors in Slovakia
Framatome Will Supply Fuel for VVER Nuclear Reactors in Slovakia
Framatome and Slovak utility Slovenské elektrárne on July 23 announced the companies have signed a major contract for the long-term supply of nuclear fuel to the Bohunice and Mochovce VVER reactors from 2027. This follows on from the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two companies in May 2023.
“This contract marks a new milestone in the longstanding and fruitful cooperation between Framatome and Slovenské elektrárne. We are pleased to contribute to the diversification of Slovakia’s fuel supply and to the safe, reliable and uninterrupted operation of the Bohunice and Mochovce nuclear power plants”, said Lionel Gaiffe, senior executive vice president, Fuel Business Unit at Framatome.
The international context has accelerated the need for a European fuel solution to avoid disruption to critical services and reduce dependency on imports from outside of Europe. Utilities do not want to be dependent on a single supplier; diversification is key and is in line with the recommendations of the Euratom Security of Supply Agency (ESA), the companies said in a news release.
“Securing a contract with one of the world’s leading nuclear fuel suppliers for our power plants is an important step in strengthening Slovakia’s energy security. Our nuclear power plants represent an important pillar in our country’s energy mix, therefore I consider it to be crucial to secure nuclear fuel supply diversification for their stable operation,” said Branislav Strýček, Chairman of the Board and General Director of Slovenské elektrárne, a.s.
Framatome’s response to this accelerated need for alternative fuel supply is a dual-track approach that reduces risk and provides certainty, safety and continuity for the VVER reactors in operation in the European Union. In the short term, Framatome will fabricate fuel identical to the proven design currently used by the European VVER reactors. In parallel, Framatome is developing and qualifying European sovereign fuels of its own design for VVER 440 and 1000 reactors.
Nineteen VVER reactors are currently in operation in the European Union, including four VVER 1,000-MW reactors in Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, and 15 VVER 440-MW reactors in the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary and Slovakia.
—POWER edited this content, which was contributed by Framatome’s media relations department.
Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: nuclear
Nuclear energy provides almost 20 percent of the U.S. electricity supply. Advocates have called for an expanded role for nuclear as an emissions-free fuel source. But the economics of building new reactors are daunting. In addition, lingering safety concerns are an institutionalized part of the calculation of nuclear regulation, and highly radioactive nuclear waste remains a can that public officials have been inclined to kick down the road. The Energy Information Administration projects a sharp decline in nuclear power generation over the next decade, as new nuclear plants — two are planned — are more than offset by anticipated retirements of several operating reactors.