The two-unit Temelin nuclear power plant, the Czech Republic's largest NPP, plans to start using Russian nuclear fuel in 2009, Russian nuclear fuel manufacturer TVEL said Friday.

In May 2006, TVEL Corporation won a tender for a 10-year contract with the local CEZ Group to supply roughly 400 metric tons of fuel to the Temelin NPP, the construction of which began in 1987 with Russian help.

"In May 2007, the Czech Republic decided to remove nuclear fuel produced by corporation Westinghouse [U.S.] from the Temelin NPP.... TVEL will submit a feasibility study for the use of its fuel at Temelin in June 2008, and the Russian fuel will be delivered there in 2009," the vice-president of TVEL, Pyotr Lavrenyuk, said.

He specified that the decision to replace fuel concerned the first unit, and that a decision would be reached on the second reactor this year.

TVEL, which accounts for 17% of the global nuclear fuel market, will be supplying modern, more economical fuel that also ensures greater reactor safety, the company said last year, adding that other agreements on supplies of more advanced fuel may follow to supplement the contract.

The company said the deal would help Russia strengthen its position as a leading global nuclear fuel supplier.

SOURCE: RIA Novosti

DATE: June 03, 2007

Topics: NFC, Russia, East Europe, Czech, NPP Temelin