Rosatom starts installation work at nuclear fuel fabrication facility in Russia

• 4 years ago (2020-06-16)
• David Flin

Europe 1068 Nuclear 643

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Rosatom has started work on installation of the main equipment for the nuclear fuel fabrication facility (FRU) at the pilot energy complex (ODEK) in the Siberian Chemical Combine at Seversk, Tomsk, in Russia. ODEK is part of Russia’s Proryv (Breakthrough) project, designed to demonstrate a closed fuel cycle. SCC is part of TVEL, which itself is a subsidiary of Rosatom.

Rosatom said that installation of the main technological equipment is being worked out in advance in digital mode to: “Minimise any possible mismatches and optimise the sequence of works.” Installation of the equipment at the FRU will take around 18 months.

The site of a future 300MW nuclear power plant, powered by the BREST-OD-300 reactor, is being readied for construction work to start there.

The first equipment prepared for installation is the decontamination section of the fuel rod production line. There are currently over 40 items of equipment at the FRU site.

The ultimate aim of the Breakthrough project is to eliminate production of radioactive waste from nuclear power generation. The Breakthrough project comprises a fuel production/refabrication module for the production of dense uranium/plutonium nitride fuel for fast reactors; a nuclear power plant with a BREST reactor; and a used fuel retreatment module.