Westinghouse’s nuclear fuel may be used at another 2 units of Zaporizhia NPP

"Taking into account the positive results of the state tests of the nuclear and radiation safety of materials substantiating safety, The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine acknowledged the possibility of loading the first shipments of Westinghouse nuclear fuel to active zones of power units No. 1 and No. 4 of Zaporizhia NPP," the report said.

It is noted that the state-run Energoatom, the operator of Ukrainian-based nuclear power plants, uses Westinghouse-produced nuclear fuel at Ukrainian NPPs in order to diversify the sources of nuclear fuel supplies to Ukraine's nuclear power plants and avoid dependence on the monopoly supplier.

Read alsoWestinghouse Vice President: There's a lot of bureaucracy in UkraineAs UNIAN reported earlier, Energoatom signed an agreement with Westinghouse within diversifying sources of nuclear fuel supplies for Ukrainian nuclear power plants and reducing dependence on a single supplier, Russia's TVEL. In March 2015, South Ukraine NPP successfully completed the loading of upgraded TVS-WR fuel manufactured by Westinghouse at its power unit No. 3. In April 2015, the unit was connected to the country's power grid.

In February 2016, Energoatom supplied the first batch of Westinghouse nuclear fuel for Zaporizhia NPP. Energoatom's imports of fuel elements containing Westinghouse nuclear fuel accounted for 41.6% in the first six months of 2016, while the share of supplies from Russia was 58.4%.

Now Westinghouse's nuclear fuel is used as a part of mixed active zones of power units No. 2 and No. 3 of South Ukraine NPP and No. 5 of Zaporizhia NPP. It is also being prepared for loading into the core of unit 3 of the latter.

UNIAN memo. Energoatom is Ukraine's largest electricity producer, accounting for about 55% of the country's overall power output. Energoatom is responsible for the safe operation of the country's nuclear power plants.