Russian to supply nuclear fuel to US nuclear reactors

Russia will supply nuclear fuel to the USA for operation of American nuclear power plants' reactors.

TVEL, a fuel division of Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom, and Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas (GNF-A), a subsidiary of the US based-GE Hitachi, signed an agreement to work together towards the licensing, marketing and fabrication of fuel for the US customers operating Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs), said the Russian nuclear agency in a recent statement.

According to the statement, under the agreement, TVEL and GNF-A will form a strategic alliance with the purpose of introducing lead use assemblies (LUAs) of the Russian trademark TVS-K fuel design in the US and seeking licensing approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to supply the fuel in reload quantities.

Rosatom is also engaged in building the 2400 MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh.

The Rosatom statement said within the alliance GNF-A will provide US-based project management, licensing, quality assurance and engineering services while TVEL will provide TVS-K design expertise, engineering support and initial fabrication of lead use assemblies. Subsequent FAs are planned to be jointly produced at GNF-A's Wilmington N.C. facility.

http://www.energycentral.com/functional/news/news_detail.cfm?did=39195263