The Ukrainian nuclear fuel plant finally destroys the Russian monopoly

Authors: Tetyana Baybuzenko, Honored Energy Engineer of Ukraine, Oleksandr Fomenko, Honored Energy Engineer of Ukraine

In August 2024 JSC NAEC Energoatom received a positive conclusionUkrderbudexpertise and State Atomic Energy Regulation regarding technical and economic justification for the construction of the “Technological complex for the production of heat-dissipating assemblies” (hereinafter – TEKTVVZ Feasibility Study). The feasibility study was developed by JSC “Kyiv Research and Design Institute “Energoproekt” (hereinafter – JSC KIEP) within the framework of the contract with JSC NAEK “Energoatom”. The feasibility study was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Terms of Reference for the Agreement in accordance with the current norms and rules of Ukraine.

The development of the feasibility study of TKVTVZ in this difficult period of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine is a demonstration of the stable state of the active energy industry of Ukraine, the leading role of the operating organization (JSC NAEK “Energoatom”) in the implementation of state programs and urgent tasks of the current operation of the NPP with the involvement of leading engineering potential in the nuclear industry of Ukraine.

Looking back, it should be noted that the production of nuclear fuel in Ukraine was planned back in the mid-90s, when it was created”UKRTVZ” enterprise is a joint Ukrainian-Kazakhstan-Russian enterprise for the production of nuclear fuel. Due to various circumstances, apart from the formal establishment of the enterprise, this project did not receive further development.

But already later in the early 2000s, taking into account the current potential in Ukraine and the need for the development of the uranium mining industry, zirconium production and diversification from the supply of nuclear fuel for the nuclear power plants of Ukraine, the state target economic program “Nuclear Fuel of Ukraine” was developed, according to which the following were considered three options for solving the problem of providing nuclear power plants of Ukraine with nuclear fuel:

– the first option — purchase of nuclear fuel on the world market;

– the second option — creation of capacities for the production of nuclear fuel by domestic enterprises and organizations;

– the third option is the creation of capacities for the production of nuclear fuel and its elements through cooperation with other countries.

On the basis of a comprehensive analysis, it was determined that the most optimal for Ukraine according to a number of criteria is the third option, according to which a nuclear fuel production enterprise is created in Ukraine with the acquisition from foreign companies and with the introduction of technologies for the production of components, fuel tablets and heat-releasing

assemblies at this enterprise ( TVZ), as well as the purchase on the world market of uranium conversion and enrichment services for the domestic production of nuclear fuel.

After the beginning of the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine in 2014, despite the fact that the supply of nuclear fuel by the Russian Federation to the NPPs of Ukraine still continued under the current contracts, at the initiative of JSC NAEC “Energoatom” and state support with the aim of diversifying the suppliers of nuclear fuel for the NPPs of Ukraine, signed contracts for the development and supply of nuclear fuel for VVER-1000 reactors with Westinghouse, USA.

Such nuclear fuel was created by Westinghouse with the participation of leading Ukrainian engineering companies and scientific institutions and the operating organization (JSC NAEK “Energoatom”), licensed by the State Nuclear Regulatory Commission of Ukraine, and after successful pilot testing at the South Ukrainian NPP, is currently used at all NPPs of Ukraine. Production of this nuclear fuel (heat-separating assemblies – TVZ VVER-1000) is carried out at the Westinghouse plant in Västerös (Sweden) and delivered to Ukraine.

The creation of TKVTVZ is a continuation of JSC NAEK Energoatom’s strategy for the sustainable operation of NPP power units by not only obtaining ready-made TVZ VVER-1000 from the Westeros enterprise (Sweden), but also the production of these Westinghouse-designed TVZ on the territory of Ukraine.

The organization of nuclear fuel production in Ukraine provides an opportunity to reduce risks related to the provision of nuclear fuel to Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, to ensure the development of domestic production, the preservation and creation of new jobs, to increase revenues to the budgets of all levels, and to provide prerequisites for the further improvement of the nuclear fuel cycle of Ukraine in the context of the current program “Nuclear fuel of Ukraine”.

In 2023, JSC KIEP, by order of JSC NAEK Energoatom, performed pre-project work on the screening of potential sites for the placement of TKVTVZ. According to the results of the performed works, three potential sites were identified, among which, according to the Law of Ukraine “On the Use of Nuclear Energy and Radiation Safety”, the preferred site must be determined at the feasibility stage.

As part of the feasibility study of TKVTVZ, performed by JSC KIEP, the following was carried out:

· with the use of multi-factor analysis, the selection of a priority site for the construction of the TKVTVZ, which meets the requirements of the current legal acts – near the city of Yuzhnoukrainian in the industrial zone South Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant (PAES);

· substantiation of the main technical solutions based on the Westinghouse technology for the production of nuclear fuel for VVER-1000 reactors at TKVTVZ;

· assessment of the impacts of TKVTVZ on the surrounding natural environment during normal operation and accidents, including an assessment of the potential transboundary transfer of radioactive substances in case of severe accidents;

· determination of the main technical and economic indicators of TKVTVZ.

TKVTVZ is a nuclear fuel manufacturing enterprise, which carries out operations for assembling TVZ from components, while:

· the production of TVZ frame elements (except for heads and shanks) is carried out outside Ukraine – at the Westinghouse plant in Västerös (Sweden);

· production of heads and shanks for TVZ is carried out at the plant of VP “Atomenergomash” JSC “NAEC “Energoatom”;

· manufacturing of heat-emitting elements (hereinafter – TVEL), including the processes of conversion, enrichment, manufacturing of shells, production of tablets, filling of TVEL with tablets, sealing, etc., is carried out outside Ukraine – at the Westinghouse plant in Västerös (Sweden).

At TKVTVZ, the following main technological operations are expected to be carried out according to the same Westinghouse processes in Västerös (Sweden) using the main technological equipment supplied by Westinghouse:

· reception, incoming control and temporary storage of components (parts) for TVZ frames for further use during TVZ assembly;

· reception, incoming control and temporary storage of TVE with subsequent delivery to the TVE assembly area;

· assembly of TVZ frames from components;

· filling TVZ with TVELs and absorbing rods according to the specification of a specific TVZ;

· control of collected TVS;

· preparation for shipment, temporary storage and shipment of TVZ by road transport to the relevant NPP.

The technological scheme of TVZ assembly at TKVTVZ provides:

· nuclear safety;

· safe and hermetic localization of nuclear material in nuclear reactors;

· ensuring safety during receipt, temporary storage, during transport and technological operations with components, TVELs and TVZ;

· ensuring safety during temporary storage of finished television sets;

· protection of TVZ from extreme effects of natural and man-made origin.

For the operation of TVKTVZ, main and auxiliary facilities, systems and equipment, organizational and technical solutions are provided, which ensure uninterrupted and safe main production of nuclear fuel for NPPs of Ukraine during the project life of this enterprise – 60 years. The planning of the territory of the TKVTVZ and the organizational and technical solutions mentioned above provide for the possibility of its expansion to increase the capacity of the TKVTVZ if necessary.

The implementation of this project by Energoatom JSC on the creation of TKVTVZ for the production of nuclear fuel in Ukraine is expected to significantly reduce the cost of nuclear fuel, logistics costs, and provide prerequisites for the development of nuclear energy in Ukraine using modern Western nuclear installations of the PWR type