The Fuel Division of Rosatom (managed by TVEL JSC) has successfully supplied the initial nuclear fuel loading for the VVER-1200 reactor at Unit 3 of the Xudapu NPP in Liaoning Province, Northeast China. The fuel for the initial core loading was manufactured at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant, an enterprise of Rosatom’s Fuel Division. This shipment is provided under the contract between TVEL JSC and the Chinese customers for the fuel supply for Generation 3+ Units 3 and 4 at the Xudapu NPP, which are based on VVER-1200 reactors of Russian design.
“The Xudapu NPP is a new destination in the geography of Russian nuclear fuel supplies. Prior to that, we had provided fuel for VVER-1000 and VVER-1200 reactors at the Tianwan NPP, as well as fuel assemblies for Chinese fast neutron reactors. This supply marks a new milestone in the dynamic partnership with our Chinese partners. By the end of this year, we also plan to manufacture and provide initial fuel core shipments for two other new VVER-1200 reactors at Tianwan and Xudapu NPPs,” said Oleg Grigoriyev, Senior Vice President for Commerce and International Business at TVEL JSC.
The contract for the supply of nuclear fuel for Units 3 and 4 of the
Xudapu NPP was signed in November 2019 between TVEL JSC and the Chinese
companies CNEIC, CNLNPC, and CNSP (all enterprises are subsidiaries of China
National Nuclear Corporation).
Xudapu NPP is a nuclear energy cooperation project between Russia and China, located in Huludao (Liaoning Province). In 2019, a number of contracts were signed, including the general contract for the construction of Unit 3 and 4 of Xudapu NPP with reactors of VVER-1200 type, as well as a contract for the supply of nuclear fuel. The units are scheduled to be commissioned in 2027-2028.
Nuclear Fuel Division of Rosatom (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.
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. This is a part of the large scale intergovernmental Russian‑Chinese cooperation program in nuclear energy.
