First fuel from Ulba-FA fuel delivered to customer

Thursday, 8 December 2022

The first batch of fresh nuclear fuel from the Ulba-FA LLP joint partnership has been delivered to a Chinese nuclear power plant, Kazatomprom has announced. The shipment of AFA 3G ТМ fuel assemblies - equivalent to one reload (a little over 30 tonnes of low-enriched uranium) have been accepted by the end customer, China General Nuclear Power Corporation.

First fuel from Ulba-FA fuel delivered to customer — The 34 containers of fresh fuel were transported by rail (Image: Kazatomprom)

The Ulba-FA fuel assembly plant, which uses Framatome fuel assembly manufacturing technology and equipment manufactured in China, France and the USA, began operations in November 2021. The plant has a capacity of 200 tU per year and has guaranteed sales market for 20 years ahead, Kazatomprom said.

Kazatomprom CEO Yerzhan Mukanov said the plant has allowed the company to diversify by producing a high-tech, export oriented high value-added uranium product.

"Successful product delivery to the Chinese partners confirmed the reputation of Kazatomprom as a reliable and favorable supplier on the global nuclear fuel market," he said.

Ulba-FA LLP is a joint venture of Kazatomprom subsidiary UMP JSC and CGNPC-URC.