Russia is to deliver the first test batch of nuclear fuel to a US reactor in 2019. Russia’s nuclear fuel company Tvel, part of state nuclear corporation Rosatom, has already has launched production of the fuel assemblies (FAs).
“A contract on test-industrial operations with one of the US operators is already signed, and we’ll deliver test batch of TVS-KVADRAT (FA square) assemblies in 2019,” Tvel's Senior Vice-President for Commerce and International Business, Oleg Grigoriev, told reporters at a news conference during the Atomexpo-2017 forum in Moscow on 20 June.
“We’re determined to sign another contract on test-industrial operations this year with another major US nuclear power plant operator. In all, there are five companies in the consortium which supports the TVS-KVADRAT programme in the US,” Grigoriev added.
In addition to the contract with a US nuclear operator, Tvel also signed an agreement last year on the commercial delivery of TVS-KVADRAT fuel to Sweden's Vattenfall, which operates the Ringhals nuclear plant. Those deliveries are due to start in 2021, according to Grigoriev.
Tvel said that the TVS-KVADRAT assemblies are currently being produced in the quantities needed to meet the demand of the two companies, but that it could expand production if needed.
