TVO renews fuel contracts with AREVA and Westinghouse

17.11.2014

Both AREVA and Westinghouse Electric Sweden (WSE) will supply nuclear fuel to the existing nuclear power plant units in Olkiluoto during 2016–2019. The fuel assemblies of OL1 are produced by AREVA, while WSE delivers fuel assemblies to OL2.

The contracts were renewed at the beginning of November. According to Ms. Marjo Mustonen, Senior Vice President, Nuclear Safety, the fuel assemblies covered by the new contracts reflect improved consideration of aspects related to production and economy.

– Both operators have been our cooperation partners for years and their fuel fulfils our strict quality criteria, Ms. Mustonen says.

TVO procures the fuel using a diversified fuel procurement chain, conducts negotiations itself and awards contracts to suppliers at every step of the procurement chain. There are several suppliers for every step of the chain and competitive bidding processes are organised on a regular basis. This ensures that TVO possesses top expertise in different stages of fuel procurement. TVO also designs the fuel composition itself as well as the way the fuel is used.

– This is not a very common approach; instead, fuel is often procured on a "turnkey" basis from a single supplier. The approach based on a diversified procurement chain that TVO has selected contributes to the strengthening of our role as a leading Finnish producer of nuclear energy and helps ensure that high-level research and education in nuclear technology will continue to exist in Finland also in the future, Ms. Mustonen concludes.

TVO has long-term contracts with leading uranium and fuel suppliers, and TVO monitors and assesses the suppliers on a constant basis. Only uranium suppliers who fulfil the requirements specified by TVO are approved. Supplier assessments focus on quality, environment and OHAS systems, and their execution in practice.

TVO's plant units OL1 and OL2 require a total of ca. 200 fuel assemblies every year. The contract concluded with AREVA concerns the ATRIUM 10XM fuel assembly type. The fuel assembly type procured from WSE is SVEA-96 Optima 3. At present, the fuel assemblies ordered by TVO are produced and assembled in Germany and Sweden.

For more information, please contact: Marjo Mustonen, Senior Vice President, Nuclear Safety, tel. +358 2 8381 3100

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