Russia remained the main exporter of nuclear fuel to Ukraine in 2018, Interfax-Ukraine reported on 21 February, citing data from the State Statistics Service. Ukraine imported about $523.2 million worth of nuclear fuel from abroad, with Russian fuel manufacturer TVEL accounting for $374 million (71.6%). US-based Westinghouse supplied $148.5 million (28.4%) from its Sweden-based facility. Russia’s share increased compared with 2017 when it accounted for 69.2%, with Westinghouse supplying 30.8%.
Earlier, the Ukrainian Energy and Coal Ministry had announced plans to reduce the share of imports from Russia to 45% in 2018 from more than 90% in 2013. Following a change of government in Kiev in 2014, Ukraine undertook to buy most of its nuclear fuel from countries other than Russia.
Westinghouse fuel may be fully loaded into core of unit 2 of the South Ukraine NPP by 2020, said plant CEO Vladimir Lisnichenko, noting that it was currently loaded only 50% with Westinghouse assemblies. South Ukraine unit 3 was fully loaded with Westinghouse fuel in mid-2018 which is currently operating in research mode. Nuclear utility Energoatom plans to start using Westinghouse fuel in the VVER-1000 unit at Rovno 3 by 2021. Currently Westinghouse fuel is used in six of Ukraine’s 15 units - South Ukraine 2&3 and Zaporozhye 1, 3, 4 and 5 – all VVER-1000 reactors.
Energoatom launched the project to qualify Westinghouse fuel for VVER-1000s in 2000, and in 2008 Energoatom and Westinghouse Electric Sweden (then part of Toshiba) signed a contract to ship fuel to three or six Ukrainian reactors in 2011-2015. However, during trial use at South Ukraine in 2012, the fuel became deformed causing significant damage to the reactor. Ukraine subsequently suspended the use of Westinghouse fuel pending its redesign. Following the 2014 change of government, the contract was revived and extended and in early 2018, Energoatom and Westinghouse Electric further extended the contract until 2025. "In 2019, we will be able to complete the research operation of this fuel and move to industrial operation,” Lisichenko said. Westinghouse is now planning to also produce fuel for VVER-440 reactors.
