Rosatom's fuel company, TVEL signed an agreement with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and the Nuclear Power Production and Development Company of Iran for nuclear fuel supplies to Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant (NPP), according to Rosatom on Wednesday.
The agreement aims to replace the nuclear fuel model for the NPP's first operational power unit.
According to Rosatom, the current fuel assemblies in the power plant will be replaced with more advanced TVS-2M bundles, the first delivery of which is scheduled in 2020.
In comparison with UTVS fuel, the new-generation TVS-2M bundles are distinguished by higher uranium capacity, fuel burn-up, and in-pile stiffness.
The introduction of the new nuclear fuel model will allow advanced technical and economic performance for the power plant's operation, as well as reduce the amount of spent nuclear fuel.
'For those VVER-1000 reactors that have used UTVS fuel, the transition to TVS-2M is optimal in terms of technological consistency,' Alexander Ugryumov, vice president of TVEL was quoted as saying.
'Such replacements have already been carried out at all relevant nuclear power units in Russia, and we will continue such work together with our foreign partners,' the vice president added.
By Huseyin Erdogan
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr