The French Framatome signed a memorandum with the Czech ZEC on the development of fuel for the Soviet VVER-1000 reactors. Previously, the American Westinghouse entered the fuel market for Soviet and Russian reactors. Framatome itself is trying to create a line for the production of fuel assemblies under a Russian license at a plant in Germany. Experts believe that the French will not be able to create an alternative fuel on their own before the 2030s.
“We are pleased to take another step in the development of Framatome’s VVER-1000 fuel complex to ensure the safe, reliable and uninterrupted operation of nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic and beyond.” — said the executive vice president of Framatome’s fuel division after signing a memorandum with the Czech ZEC Lionel Gaiffe.
“Framatome is a fuel supplier that can guarantee 100% sovereign European technology, with a completely European design and product, as well as production facilities and a supply chain of fuel components located and operated in the EU,” he assured. a representative of the French company.
Framatome said it has been developing fuel for VVER since 2018. At the same time, the company estimates that the market for fuel for Soviet and Russian reactors in Europe is quite large.
“There are currently nineteen VVER reactors in operation in the European Union, including four 1,000 MW VVER reactors in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria and fifteen 440 MW VVER reactors in the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary and Slovakia.” – calculated in Framatome.
After the start of the SVO in Ukraine, the authorities of all EU countries where there are nuclear power plants with Soviet and Russian reactors, except Hungary, promised to refuse the services of Rosatom and its companies, including fuel.
Previously, in July, Framatome signed a contract for the supply of fuel elements for the VVER-440 in Slovakia, where the contract with Russia’s TVEL expires in 2026. The French have committed to starting deliveries in 2027.
“Framatome’s response to the growing need for alternative fuel supplies is a two-pronged approach that reduces risks and provides certainty, security and continuity of operation for VVER reactors operating in the European Union. In the short term, Framatome will produce fuel identical to the proven design currently used in European VVER reactors. In parallel, Framatome is developing sovereign European fuel of its own design for the VVER-440 and 1000 reactors.” – stated in the French company.
Director of the Atominfo Center Alexander Uvarov points out that the activation of Framatome in the VVER-1000 fuel market is due to the fact that the French do not want to cede a region that they consider their own to the Americans from Westinghouse. For more than 10 years, Westinghouse has been supplying fuel assemblies for VVER nuclear power plants in Ukraine, and pilot deliveries to nuclear power plants in Bulgaria and Finland began this year.
“It should be borne in mind that French nuclear scientists do not have a backlog of hexagonal fuel assemblies, characteristic of VVERs, so it will be possible to talk about the appearance of purely French fuel for such reactors no earlier than the 1930s,” – says Alexander Uvarov.
For Framatome, the optimal solution for now would be to produce a fuel identical to the tested design. In 2021, the French company agreed with Rosatom to produce sets for VVER in Europe under the TVEL license.
To achieve this, Framatome plans to open the fourth stage at its plant in Lingen, Germany.
“European VVER operators have asked Framatome to contribute to the development of a European sovereign fuel solution to avoid disruptions to critical services and reduce dependence on imports from outside Europe.” – explain your position to Framatome and ensure that the supply of fuel under license will not require any technical or legal changes, since the fuel will be identical to that already in your reactors.
The problem is that in Germany the French company has encountered opposition from politicians and greens and still cannot obtain permission.
“Through cooperation with Framatome, the Russian state nuclear company TVEL gains access to sensitive nuclear infrastructure in Germany and participates in the production of fuel cells in Lingen. Russian specialists from TVEL/Rosatom will temporarily work in Lingen. From the point of view of security policy, this does not suit us.” – declared, for example, at a hearing a group of parties in the Lingen town hall, led by the Greens.
The Ministry of the Environment of Lower Saxony reported that negotiations will begin in the second half of November, in which almost 11 thousand objections received against the project will be discussed. Furthermore, the project cannot be started without the approval of the Lower Saxony authorities. The minister himself Christian Meyer I am extremely critical of the project.
“In accordance with the coalition agreement, we, as the state of Lower Saxony, have also committed to stop importing Russian uranium for the production of fuel cells. We are clearly on the side of Ukraine and should not do anything that increases Russian influence in the European energy sector. It is clear that all objections, including those related to interdependence with Russian companies, will be taken into account in the procedure. “Lower Saxony will not grant any discounts, especially in matters of external and internal security, such as sabotage, espionage and the influence of the Russian aggressor.” – stated the minister.
