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Framatome and Westinghouse to supply nuclear fuel to the Russian designed Temelin Nuclear Plants.
The Czech nuclear reactors at Temelin are Russian designed VVER reactors.
Czech utilities have offered contracts to Framatom (France) and the Swedish arm of Westinghouse (USA):
Framatome and Westinghouse to supply fuel to Temelín
Westinghouse of the USA and Framatome of France have been awarded a long-term contract by Czech utility ČEZ for the supply of nuclear fuel assemblies to the Temelín nuclear power plant.
ČEZ said three bidders - Framatome, Westinghouse and Russia's TVEL - participated in the tender, which was launched in April 2020.
"Due to diversification, two suppliers were finally selected so that ČEZ Group could reliably ensure a continuous supply of fuel assemblies for the Temelín nuclear power plant's reactors in the future, thus minimising the risks of a possible supply outage," the company said.
Under the contract, which ČEZ said is worth "billions of crowns", deliveries of fuel will start in 2024 and continue for approximately 15 years.
It added: "Westinghouse, with a manufacturing plant in Sweden, has already supplied fuel assemblies to Temelín for ten years since its commissioning. Framatome is the only manufacturer based in the European Union that supplies fuel assemblies to most Western European nuclear power plants."
ČEZ selected Westinghouse in February 2016 to supply six Lead Test Assemblies (LTA) for the Temelín plant. At that time, Westinghouse's then Senior Vice President, Nuclear Fuel and Components Manufacturing José Emeterio Gutiérrez said, "The decision by ČEZ to launch an LTA programme for its Temelín nuclear power station is significant. It demonstrates that ČEZ is serious about taking measures to improve its security of supply through a diversification of its nuclear fuel sources."
In August 2018, ČEZ announced plans to test six Westinghouse fuel rods in unit 1 of the Temelín plant. Russia's TVEL had until then been the sole supplier of nuclear fuel to Temelín and to the Czech Republic's other nuclear power plant, Dukovany...
ČEZ said three bidders - Framatome, Westinghouse and Russia's TVEL - participated in the tender, which was launched in April 2020.
"Due to diversification, two suppliers were finally selected so that ČEZ Group could reliably ensure a continuous supply of fuel assemblies for the Temelín nuclear power plant's reactors in the future, thus minimising the risks of a possible supply outage," the company said.
Under the contract, which ČEZ said is worth "billions of crowns", deliveries of fuel will start in 2024 and continue for approximately 15 years.
It added: "Westinghouse, with a manufacturing plant in Sweden, has already supplied fuel assemblies to Temelín for ten years since its commissioning. Framatome is the only manufacturer based in the European Union that supplies fuel assemblies to most Western European nuclear power plants."
ČEZ selected Westinghouse in February 2016 to supply six Lead Test Assemblies (LTA) for the Temelín plant. At that time, Westinghouse's then Senior Vice President, Nuclear Fuel and Components Manufacturing José Emeterio Gutiérrez said, "The decision by ČEZ to launch an LTA programme for its Temelín nuclear power station is significant. It demonstrates that ČEZ is serious about taking measures to improve its security of supply through a diversification of its nuclear fuel sources."
In August 2018, ČEZ announced plans to test six Westinghouse fuel rods in unit 1 of the Temelín plant. Russia's TVEL had until then been the sole supplier of nuclear fuel to Temelín and to the Czech Republic's other nuclear power plant, Dukovany...
In other news, Germany has been unable to do anything about its reliance on Russian coal, oil and gas.
