Page 10 - AsiaElec Week 49

AsiaElec NUCLEAR AsiaElec

TVEL to introduce new fuel,

longer cycle at Kudankulam

INDIA NUCLEAR Power Corporation of India Lim- The first stage of the construction project
ited (NPCIL) and Russia’s TVEL, the nuclear comprises units 1 and 2, which were commis-
fuel manufacturing subsidiary of Rosatom, have sioned in 2013 and 2017 respectively.
signed a supplementary agreement to their fuel Russian technology, supplied by a number
supply contract for the VVER-1000 reactors in of the nuclear companies that are all under the
operation at Kudankulam. Rosatom umbrella, was used to build the oper-
The agreement includes the introduction of ating first and second units.
TVS-2M nuclear fuel and an extension of the Units 3, 4, 5 and 6 are the second and third
fuel cycle from 12 to 18 months, World Nuclear stages of the project. Units 3 and 4 are under con-
News reported. struction, while pre-construction work for units
Compared to the UTVS fuel model currently 5 and 6 is under way.
supplied to the plant, TVS-2M fuel assemblies TVEL supplies nuclear fuel to 73 power reac-
are more reliable and cost-effective – the rigidity tors in 13 countries, research reactors in eight
of each bundle and increased (7.6% more) ura- countries, as well as reactors for transport.
nium content, TVEL said. India’s NPCIL currently has ambitious plans
“Everything that we offer to our Indian part- to begin building 9,000 MW of new nuclear
ners is focused on obtaining economic benefits capacity in the coming years in a bid to meet
from the nuclear power units’ operation,” TVEL demand from industry and to help provide uni-
president Natalia Nikipelova said. versal access to power.
“The efficiency is achieved thanks to the This includes Units 5 and 6 at Kudankulam,
increased uranium content in a fuel bundle, which are light water reactors (LWRs), using
reducing the amount of spent nuclear fuel and Russia’s VVER technology.
increasing the duration of the fuel campaign NPCIL currently operates 22 reactors across
from three to four-and-a-half years.” India with 6,780 MW of total installed capacity.
TVEL has performed a similar exercise at the India aims to have 22,500 MW of nuclear
Tianwan nuclear power plant (NPP) in China. capacity by 2031. As well as Russian technology,
The Kudankulam NPP in Tamil Nadu, south- India also uses French and Chinese hardware, as
ern India, will consist of six VVER-1000 reactors. well as indigenous reactors designs. ™

COAL

Mongolia to cut processed coal price

as lockdown continues

MONGOLIA THE Mongolian government on December 2 processed coal briquettes in Ulaanbaatar in 2019
decided to slash the price of processed briquette to curb air pollution.
coal by 50% amid the country’s ongoing coro- The processed fuel is only used in the capital
navirus (COVID-19) outbreak that has become city at the moment. Aaround 220,000 house-
a more pressing matter given the country’s first holds live in Ulaanbaatar’s ger districts, with no
reported local virus transmissions. running water, central heating, or sewerage sys-
The processed coal price will be cut by 50% tems, according to government data.
from December 3 to April 1, media reports said. As of December 2, Mongolia had reported
“[We are doing this] in order to support the 812 COVID-19 cases, including 380 locally
livelihoods of residents of ger areas of the capi- transmitted cases. No deaths related to the virus
tal city Ulaanbaatar during the pandemic,” said had been recorded.
Prime Minister Khurelsukh Ukhnaa. Mongolia went into lockdown on November
The current price of processed coal is 150,000 12 after reporting its first locally transmitted
Mongolian tughriks, or $52.8, per tonne. coronavirus case.™
Mongolia replaced low-grade coal with

P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 49 09•December•2020