The
Fuel Division of Rosatom (managed by TVEL JSC) has delivered nuclear fuel for
the initial core loading of the VVER‑1200 reactor at Power Unit No. 7 of the
Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant, located in Jiangsu Province on the Yellow Sea
coast.
The
nuclear fuel, including the initial core load and a number of fuel assemblies
supplied as reserve, was manufactured at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates
Plant (an enterprise of Rosatom’s Fuel Division). The shipment was carried out
under TVEL’s contract for the fuel supply of Units 7 and 8 of the Tianwan NPP,
which are under construction and based on Russian-designed Generation III+ VVER‑1200
reactors.
This is
the first experience of supplying Russian nuclear fuel for VVER‑1200 reactors
to China. Previously, Rosatom has been only supplying fuel to four operating
VVER‑1000 reactors at the Tianwan NPP. Along with that, fabrication of VVER‑1000
fuel assemblies was localized at the Yibin fuel plant in Sichuan Province under
TVEL’s license. Currently, localization of fuel manufacturing for VVER‑1200
reactors is underway at the same plant.
In total, four new VVER‑1200 reactors are under construction in China, including Units 7 and 8 of the Tianwan NPP, as well as Units 3 and 4 of the Xudapu NPP in Liaoning Province in North-East of China. This is a part of the large‑scale intergovernmental Russian‑Chinese cooperation program in nuclear energy.
“The first shipment of nuclear fuel for a VVER‑1200 reactor is a new chapter in the history of our cooperation with our Chinese partners. In 2026, we are looking forward to supply three more initial cores for the Tianwan and Xudapu NPP units, this makes up the record-high volume of nuclear fuel shipments within a single year. Overall, our partnership with CNNC group is developing vigorously and embraces several areas, such as localization of fabrication, fuel supply for fast neutron reactors, and other topics. Meanwhile, the potential of our cooperation in the nuclear fuel cycle has far broader prospects for its development, and, for our part, we are ready to offer the Chinese market new products and solutions,” commented Oleg Grigoriev, Senior Vice President for Commerce and International Business at TVEL JSC.
The contract for the supply of
nuclear fuel for Units 7 and 8 of the Tianwan NPP was signed in July 2019
between TVEL JSC and the Chinese customers – Suneng Nuclear Power Corporation
(CNSP) and the China Nuclear Energy Industry Corporation (CNEIC), both part of
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). The document was signed in the
presence of Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev and Chairman of the China
Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) Zhang Kejian during the 23rd meeting of the
Russian‑Chinese Sub‑commission on Nuclear Issues.
Tianwan NPP is the largest economic cooperation project between Russia and China. At present, two power units with VVER‑1200 reactor plants are under construction there according to a Russian design. Four previously built units with Russian‑designed VVER‑1000 reactors are successfully operating and supplying millions of kilowatts of electricity to China’s power system. In June 2018, an Intergovernmental Protocol and a framework contract for the construction of Units 7 and 8 with VVER‑1200 reactors were signed in Beijing. On the Russian side, the contract was signed by the Engineering Division of Rosatom State Corporation, and on the Chinese side by CNNC enterprises. Under these documents, the Russian side designed the NPP’s “nuclear island” and will supply key “nuclear island” equipment for both units. The following implementing contracts were also signed: a contract for the technical design of Units 7 and 8, and a general contract for Units 7 and 8. In accordance with the signed contracts, Rosatom’s Engineering Division is carrying out the design and delivery of documentation and equipment for the “nuclear island,” as well as providing related services (design supervision, installation supervision, commissioning supervision). Construction work on Units 7 and 8 began in May 2021.
Nuclear Fuel Division of Rosatom State Corporation (managed by TVEL JSC) includes enterprises engaged in fabrication of nuclear fuel, uranium conversion and enrichment, manufacturing of gas centrifuges, as well as R&D and design institutions. Being the sole supplier of nuclear fuel for Russian NPPs, TVEL provides fuel for more than 70 power reactors in 15 countries worldwide, research reactors in nine countries, as well as propulsion reactors of the Russian nuclear fleet. One out of every six power reactors globally operates on TVEL fuel. The Fuel Division is the world's largest producer of enriched uranium and stable isotopes. TVEL is also focused on development of new businesses in chemistry, metallurgy, energy storage, 3D printing, digital solutions and decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
