Westinghouse fuel arrives at Temelin nuclear power plant

Friday, 23 May 2025

The country's nuclear power plant operator ČEZ began work to diversify its nuclear fuel suppliers in 2018, signing a contract for the supply of fuel assemblies for the Temelin plant with Westinghouse, and France's Framatome, in 2022. The company said it is expecting new fuel from Framatome next year.

The Czech Republic currently gets about one-third of its electricity from two VVER-1000 units in operation at Temelín, which came into operation in 2000 and 2002 and four VVER-440 units at Dukovany, which began operating between 1985 and 1987.

The diversification of nuclear fuel suppliers - and increases in fuel reserves - is seen as increasing energy security among European Union countries using Russia's TVEL for fuel for their VVER reactors which were designed in the Soviet Union era. ČEZ has also contracted Westinghouse to supply the Dukovany nuclear power plant, and is in negotiations with Framatome to follow suit.

Acceptance checks are currently taking place with specialists verifying the weight of the fuel and performing visual inspections. Bohdan Zronek, director of ČEZ's nuclear energy division, said: "One of the first steps is to check the accelerometers. This is a special device that indicates inappropriate handling during transport."

_{(Image: ČEZ)}

The company says that there had been a five-year series of analyses and tests as part of ensuring the new fuel meets the strictest safety requirements. The new fuel requires a permit from the State Office for Nuclear Safety, with ČEZ currently preparing to submit its application.

The new fuel will also enable longer fuel campaigns of 18 months at Temelin and 16 months at Dukovany, and Daniel Beneš, ČEZ chairman and CEO, said: "This is a step that significantly increases the energy security of the Czech Republic. In addition, to diversifying nuclear fuel suppliers, we also hold strategic reserves in both of our nuclear power plants."