The Russian nuclear experts describe negatively the contract between the Ukrainian NAEK Energoatom company and the U.S. Westinghouse, which opens the way for U.S.-origin nuclear fuel to the Ukranian nuclear power plants.

"The contract for delivery of the Westinghouse nuclear fuel to the Ukrainian VVER-1000 reactor is the very dangerous play with fire", says Yuri Stuzhnev, former director of the First NPP (Obninsk). He reminds that the Westinghouse's fuel assemblies did not behave well in the Temelin NPP in Czech Republic.

Stuzhnev said that U.S. engineers do not have the high-quality fuel assemblies for the VVER reactors. Anywhere they tried to sell their production the customers were finally forced to return to the Russian fuel instead of the American one.

"Indeed Ukraine, which is going to be the European Union member, can not profit by other's mistakes? Indeed the plans for the nuclear fuel diversification are more important for Ukraine than the safety of the people? Who will be responsible for the nuclear accidents, which can be happened in the Ukrainian NPPs due to the low-quality fuel?" the expert wonders.

Mr. Stuzhnev underlines that the decision to invite the foreign manufacturer for fuel supply seems to be very cynical because it was done just one month before the Chernobyl anniversary.

SOURCE: AtomInfo.Ru

DATE: April 06, 2008

Topics: NFC, Westinghouse, East Europe, Czech, Yuri Stuzhnev