Russian nuclear fuel company Tvel has signed an agreement with India’s National Nuclear Power Corporation to supply the Kudankulam-1 and -2 nuclear power units with a new fuel type known as TVS-2M.
Tvel said that in comparison to the UTVS fuel model, which is currently used at Kudankulam under an earlier supply contract, the TVS-2M fuel assemblies are “more reliable and cost-effective”.
Tvel said that in comparison to the UTVS fuel model, which is currently used at Kudankulam under an earlier supply contract, the TVS-2M fuel assemblies are “more reliable and cost-effective”.
The new-generation assemblies have higher uranium capacity, fuel burn-up, and in-pile robustness than UTVS fuel, Tvel said. They can help increase Kudankulam’s fuel cycle from 12 to 18 months.
Kudankulam-1 and -2 in Tamil Nadu, southern India, are both of the Russian VVER-1000/412 reactor type. Commercial operation began in December 2014 and March 2017.
There are also two Russia-supplied plants under construction at Kudankulam-3 and -4.
Tvel said it had already supplied its new TVS-2M fuel to the Tianwan nuclear power station in China.
