Slovak regulators skeptical on calls for fuel diversification

Forum Contacts RSS		RUSSIAN

AtomInfo.Ru, PUBLISHED 11.01.2015

The regulators of Slovakia commented skeptically on appeals from individual members of the Slovak Parliament to diversify the supply of nuclear fuel.

The Chairman of the Committee on nuclear supervision (UJD) Marta Ziakova believes that to replace the Russian fuel will not be easy and will require a lot of engineering work and preparation.

"If the operator of nuclear power plants will be proven by calculations and models that alternative fuel is capable of withstanding the required conditions, then he will be able to download six pilot fuel assemblies," said Ziakova.

"Then during the year it will be monitoring how the fuel behaves... And only when it is proven that the new fuel will behave in the reactor accordingly, it shows good results of the analysis, only then the new fuel will be allowed to use," added Ziakova.

The general inspector of UJD Peter Ugric is not a supporter of experiments forh replacing one nuclear fuel with another.

"I, as the general inspector, would not like to see in our reactors other fuel, except that there should be", said Ugrik.

According to him, the licensing of new nuclear fuel is possible.

"This, however, will require much time. Of course, it would take more than a year or two. All it will take much more time before the new fuel will be allowed. Nuclear fuel is a key point. As soon as you load nuclear fuel into the reactor, you need to have 100% confidence that all will be well," added Ugric.

Earlier in favor of partial replacement of Russian nuclear fuel to alternative call some members of the Slovak Parliament, including members of the Committee on defense and security.

Topics: NFC, East Europe, Slovakia

Other news:

Rostov-3 is connected to the grid

The work on the fourth unit construction goes as scheduled.

Vermont Yankee closure will negatively affect the economy of the region

The plant will be closed at the end of December.

TEPCO has unloaded all assemblies from spent fuel pool of Fukushima Daiichi-4

The unloading was launched on November 18, 2013 and ended on 22 December 2014.

Hero of the day

Rudolf Baklushin: BN-350 collected experience

The reactor facility BN-350 is the first facility with the fast neutron reactor. Experience of its designing, building, installing and exploitation has helped to realize and solve many problems with NPPs of a fast sodium type.

INTERVIEW

Lev Kochetkov
Whether at once appeared sodium coolant in Russian fast reactors, or sodium has had rivals? What types of fuel have been regarded as a fuel for the fast reactor program, and do we need such a high BG?

OPINION

Drones over France - the neverending story
The owners of unknown drones appearing from last September over the French nuclear facilities are still not found. The seriousness of the problem attracted the attention of French politicians and public figures.