Innovative equipment for handling spent nuclear fuel sent to Akkuyu NPP

15 February 2024


JSC Ruspolimet in Vyksa (Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region) has shipped the lead transport and packaging container TUK-137T.A1 manufactured for the Akkuyu NPP under construction in Turkiye. The equipment was manufactured by Ruspolimet for Tekhsnabexport (Tenex), Rosatom’s sales and trading division.

The TUK-137T.A1 is a new generation container designed to handle used nuclear fuel after it is unloaded from the used fuel pool. The packaging tank will be used for the placement of 18 used assemblies for their transportation and storage. The container has passed the necessary tests at the manufacturer and is certified by the Russian regulator, Rostechnadzor, for compliance with domestic safety requirements (NP-053-16) and international IAEA standards (SSR-6, Rev. 1).

The development and production of innovative containers of the TUK-137T family is part of the development of the Rosatom product line for a balanced nuclear fuel cycle (NFC). This offers customer countries a safe and cost-effective system for handling used fuel and the products of its processing. A balanced NFC provides for effective recycling of regenerated nuclear materials and a significant decrease in the volume and activity of radwaste through the reprocessing of used fuel and fractionation of high-level waste (HLW).

Tenex, established in 1963, is the world's largest supplier of nuclear fuel cycle products providing a significant part of the requirements of foreign design reactors for uranium enrichment services. For more than 60 years, Tenex has represented Russia’s nuclear industry as a key supplier in the global market. Tenex is Russia’s industry integrator for the development of international business in the field of handling used fuel and is responsible for the development and promotion of products related to its transportation, storage and processing as well as for regenerated NFC materials and conditioning of HLW.


Image: The TUK-137T.A1 container for used nuclear fuel (courtesy of Rosatom)



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