Ukraine to join project to switch European NPPs' Russian-designed VVER reactors to Westinghouse nuclear fuel

MOSCOW. March 7 (Interfax) - Ukraine's State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (SSTC NRS) will take part in the APIS project the aim of which is to help replace nuclear fuel from the Russian company Tvel with fuel supplied by the United States' Westinghouse Electric Company as Soviet-made VVER rectors at European nuclear power plants.

"The APIS project envisages developing a new-generation fuel structure and regulatory documentation for starting to use it at VVER-type reactors in European countries," the SSTC NTS said on its website, cited by Ukrainian media.

The Ukrainian state-owned enterprise has explained that the European Commission helps finance the APIS project, which is intended to facilitate safe deliveries of Westinghouse fuel both to VVER-440 reactors and VVER-1000 reactors. It is a three-year project, during which its parties expect to draw up all necessary regulatory documents to license and load Westinghouse fuel into the VVER reactors' core at European NPPs.

The project's kick-off meeting took place at the Westinghouse Electric Sweden (WES) office in Vasteras, Sweden) in late February 2023.

Within the APIS project, the SSTC NRS will be acting within seven out of the 11 work packages, heading a work package that will look into the impact of the new-generation nuclear fuel on the long-term operations of reactor units. Specialists of the Ukrainian center are also expected to participate in efforts to spread this knowledge.

Ukraine has a unique experience of diversifying fuel for VVER-1000-type reactors, the center said. Seven VVER-100 reactor cores are currently loaded with Westinghouse fuel.

"Those next in line are the first and second VVER-440 units of the Rovno NPP. The second reactor unit is expected to start operating with the American company's fuel in its core as soon as this spring," the SSTC NRS said.

Preparations are currently in progress for starting to use U.S. nuclear fuel at other facilities, including the Kozloduy NPP in Bulgaria, it said.

In addition, Westinghouse and Spain's Enusa have signed an agreement on cooperation in producing fuel for VVER-440 reactors.

The Ukrainian center has listed high technological properties among the advantages of the Westinghouse fuel: if individual U.S.-made fuel rod depressurize, they can be replaced and the fuel assembly can be put back into operation.

Besides, the Westinghouse fuel makes it possible to boost the capacity of NPP units to 105%-110%, it said.