Europe Seeks Alternative Nuclear Fuel Supplies from Westinghouse

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Europe's efforts to secure its energy supplies from non-Russian sources continue as the European Union (EU) has agreed to fund a consortium, led by Westinghouse (Monroeville, Pennsylvania), to supply nuclear fuel for Russian-designed reactors.

The deal means that certain countries will not have to rely solely on Russia for fuel. The reactors supply over half of the electricity in some of those countries. They include EU member states Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary and Slovakia, which operate Russian reactors: four VVER-1000 and 14 VVER-440 reactors.

Relations between Russia and Europe have deteriorated since last year over Russia's backing of military conflict in neighbouring Ukraine, which is a vital transit country for Russian gas reaching Europe. One-third of Europe's gas is supplied by Russia, and about half of that comes through Ukraine. Both the EU and the U.S. imposed sanctions on Russia late last year over its actions in Ukraine. For additional information, see September 16, 2014, article - European Union, U.S. Strengthen Grip on Russia with New Sanctions.

The EU funding of 2 million euros ($2.2 million) is aimed at diversifying nuclear fuel sources in the short- to medium-term. Westinghouse, which is owned by Toshiba Corporation (TYO:6502) (Tokyo, Japan), leads an eight-strong consortium of European research, supply and academic partners. The funding comes from the Euratom Research and Training Programme, which is part of Horizon 2020, the EU's research and innovation program. The project, known as ESSANUF (European Supply of Safe Nuclear Fuel), focuses on licensing alternative nuclear fuel supplies for Russian-designed pressurized water reactors (VVERs) operating in the EU.

"The decision by the EU to fund this project is significant," said Yves Brachet, Westinghouse president for the Europe, Middle East and Africa Region. "It demonstrates that the EU is serious about taking measures to improve its energy security through a diversification of its nuclear fuel sources. Currently, all Russian reactors in the EU have had to rely on Russian nuclear fuel. The project will help to strengthen and secure European supply of this fuel."

Westinghouse provides nuclear fuel to 143 plants globally, 65 of which are in Europe, and has 10 nuclear fuel-manufacturing locations around the world, including two sites in Europe: Springfields Fuels in Preston, England, and Westinghouse Electric Sweden in Vasteras. The company is the largest supplier of nuclear fuel in Europe, and the only other fuel manufacturer for VVER-type reactors.

In January, Westinghouse inked a deal with Ukraine's state-owned energy utility, National Nuclear Energy Generating Company of Ukraine (Energoatom), to significantly increase nuclear fuel supplies to the country's two nuclear plants, South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and Zaporizhia NPP. For additional information, see January 9, 2015, article - Ukraine Boosts Nuclear Fuel Deal with Westinghouse.

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