The first delivery of nuclear fuel for the initial loading of Kudankulam nuclear power plant's unit 3 in India has been completed. The fuel assemblies, produced at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant in Russia, are designed for the VVER-1000 reactor. The fuel was transported by cargo plane, with a total of seven flights required to deliver the complete reactor core and reserve fuel.

When it begins operation, unit 3 will be the first VVER-1000 reactor to use an 18-month fuel cycle. This marks a significant upgrade, as the plant's first two units were supplied with the advanced TVS-2M nuclear fuel in 2022, extending their operating cycle from 12 months to 18 months. TVEL, the fuel division of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, stated that the TVS-2M fuel offers more reliable and cost-effective operation, thanks to its rigid structure, a next-generation anti-debris filter, and a higher uranium mass.

The Kudankulam nuclear power site, located around 100 kilometers from the port city of Tuticorin in southern India, already houses two operational VVER-1000 reactors. Unit 1 has been in commercial operation since 2014, and unit 2 since 2017. The site is undergoing an expansion, with units 3 and 4 under construction since 2017, and units 5 and 6 starting construction in 2021. Additionally, two larger AES-2006 units with VVER-1200 reactors, Kudankulam units 7 and 8, have been proposed as part of a fourth phase of the plant’s development.

The fuel delivery for unit 3 is part of a contract signed in 2024, which ensures the supply of fuel for units 3 and 4 throughout their operational lifetimes.

by world-nuclear-news