Dukovany nuclear plant receives first fuel from Westinghouse

Prague, June 16 (CTK) - The Dukovany nuclear power plant has taken delivery of the first fuel assemblies from American company Westinghouse and will now use American fuel for the first time in its history, energy group CEZ, the plant's operator, said today.

The deliveries are part of the expansion of the number of fuel suppliers to domestic nuclear power plants. Czechia's other nuclear power plant, Temelin, has already received the fuel in recent weeks. Westinghouse and France's Framatome have replaced the previous fuel supplier, Russia's TVEL.

While Westinghouse fuel returned to Temelin after 15 years, it will be used for the first time at Dukovany.

"This is a step that significantly increases the energy security of the Czech Republic. In addition to diversifying nuclear fuel suppliers, we also hold strategic stocks at both of our nuclear power plants," said CEZ head Daniel Benes.

CEZ concluded a contract with Westinghouse and Framatome for fuel supplies to Temelin in 2022 and subsequently in 2023 an agreement with Westinghouse for Dukovany. At present, CEZ is negotiating with Framatome for the supply to Dukovany.

"Both types of newly supplied VVER fuel, produced in Vasteras, Sweden, are fully compatible with assemblies from other manufacturers and offer increased fuel efficiency and extended fuel cycles," said Tarik Choho, president of the Westinghouse nuclear fuel division.

Before the fuel is loaded into the reactor, it has to obtain permission from the State Office for Nuclear Safety, added Bohdan Zronek, CEZ board member and head of the nuclear power division.

Currently, four nuclear units are operating at Dukovany, each with a capacity of 510 MW. They have produced 6.2 terawatt hours of electricity since the beginning of this year. Another two nuclear units, each with a capacity of about 1,000 megawatts (MW), are at Temelin.

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