The Paks nuclear power plant in Hungary will begin the transition from a 12-month to a 15-month fuel cycle next year, Russian nuclear fuel supply TVEL has announced.
Starting in 2015, Paks NPP will begin using the fuel with 4.7% uranium-235 alongside its standard 4.2% U-235 fuel. The second-generation fuel has a proven track record in Russia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Finland, TVEL said.
Russian engineers in association with Hungarian experts drafted a new set of technical documents required to obtain a licence for the new fuel to be used at Paks NPP.
The Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority renewed the operating licence for the second unit of the Paks nuclear power plant for 20 years until 31 December 2034.
The four-unit Paks station comprises four VVER-440 reactors and began operation in 1982. TVEL is to remain a nuclear fuel supplier for the entire life of the units, according to a contract signed with power plant owned MVM Group in 1999.
