"This contract marks a new milestone in the longstanding and fruitful cooperation between Framatome and Slovenske elektrarne. We are pleased to contribute to the diversification of Slovakia's fuel supply and to the safe, reliable and uninterrupted operation of the Bohunice and Mochovce nuclear power plants," said Lionel Gaiffe, senior executive vice president, Fuel Business Unit at Framatome.
The international climate has heightened the need for a European fuel solution to prevent service disruptions and lessen reliance on non-European imports. Utilities are seeking to avoid dependency on a single supplier, making diversification essential, in line with the Euratom Security of Supply Agency (ESA) recommendations.
"Securing a contract with one of the world's leading nuclear fuel suppliers for our power plants is an important step in strengthening Slovakia's energy security. Our nuclear power plants represent an important pillar in our country's energy mix, therefore I consider it to be crucial to secure nuclear fuel supply diversification for their stable operation," declared Branislav Strycek, Chairman of the Board and General Director of Slovenske elektrarne, a.s.
Framatome's approach to addressing the need for alternative fuel supply involves a dual-track strategy that mitigates risk and ensures certainty, safety, and continuity for the VVER reactors in the European Union. In the short term, Framatome will produce fuel identical to the current design used by European VVER reactors. Concurrently, Framatome is developing and qualifying its own European sovereign fuels for VVER 440 and 1000 reactors.
Nineteen VVER reactors are currently operating within the European Union, including four VVER 1,000 MW reactors in Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, and fifteen VVER 440 MW reactors in the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, and Slovakia.
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