Tvel, part of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, has announced that a batch of 48 of its new TVSA-T.mod.2 fuel assemblies has been loaded into the VVER-1000 reactor Temelin 2 in the Czech Republic.

Tvel noted that the modified fuel improves the economic efficiency of power plant operations. The assemblies are also more robust and have lower pressure drop which also contributes to advanced operational behaviour.

Manufacturing of the new bundles has started in 2018 at Tvel's Machine-building Plant in Elektrostal, Moscow region.  

Tvel supplies fuel to both units at Temelin, under a current contract with ČEZ power company.

"We are committed to further supplies of modern and reliable nuclear fuel to [the] Czech Republic, introducing the new design and modifications of fuel assemblies, including the ones for VVER-440 reactors, which would make the operations of the Czech nuclear power plants even more efficient,” noted Oleg Grigoriyev, senior vice-president for Commerce and International Business of TVEL JSC.