Government: Framatom will be able to participate in future tenders for the supply of fresh nuclear fuel for Kozloduy NPP

The decision of the Council of Ministers of July 13, 2022, imposing restrictions on the diversification of fresh nuclear fuel supplies for the Kozloduy NPP, was canceled today. This was announced by the press service of the Council of Ministers. From there, they recall the situation with the supply of fresh nuclear fuel for the nuclear power plant. At the moment, only the Russian TVEL and the French Framatom are licensed suppliers of fuel for the Kozloduy NPP, it is clear from the announcement. The American "Westinghouse" will first have to license its fuel in order to possibly participate in future tenders.

Kozloduy NPP has started activities to ensure diversified supplies of fresh nuclear fuel already in 2019. However, the use of fuel from a new supplier can only begin after it has been licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Agency.

In addition to the traditional supplier of fresh nuclear fuel for reactors of type VVER-1000 (such as those in the Kozloduy NPP) - TVEL - Russian Federation, it is also produced by the companies Westinghouse - Sweden and Framatom - France.

Westinghouse produces RWFA fresh nuclear fuel cartridges that could be used at the Kozloduy NPP if licensed by the NRA. The implementation of this type of cartridges may require consulting services from the NIC "Kurchatov Institute", which under contract with the Kozloduy NPP enters the fuel data into the internal-reactor control system.

In a joint venture with the TVEL company, Framatom produces nuclear fuel cartridges that are a complete analogue of those used at the Kozloduy NPP. The restrictions imposed in the overturned decision of the ICJ of 13 July 2022, related to the non-admission of supplies and services from the Russian Federation, could effectively prevent the participation of Westinghouse and preclude the possibility of Framatom participating in the diversification process.

Today's decision by the SC provides an effective competitive environment for existing alternative fuel producers for VVER-1000 type reactors to participate in the process of diversifying the supply of fresh nuclear fuel for the Kozloduy NPP without compromising safety.