The final consignment of high-enriched uranium (HEU) of 49.2 kg has been taken from Hungary to Russia. The shipment was done by air several times during the last six weeks. Previous shipments in 2008, 2009 and 2012 had returned a total of 190 kg of HEU from Hungary to Russia. The consignment was done as a part of international program between Russia, Hungary, the USA and IAEA. The HEU will be downblended to LEU for use in nuclear power plants. The Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR) Russian-American program is the part of GTRI (Global Threat Reduction Initiative) by NCRP. Since its beginning in 2004 there have been more than 5 tons of heavy metal enriched more than by 20% of 235U removed from 27 countries.
Bulgarian Council of Ministers approved the agreement project between the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency and the RF Federal Service for Environmental, Technological, and Nuclear Supervision concerning cooperation in the sphere of nuclear regulation and radiation safety while using peaceful atom. The agreement is to strengthen a long-term partnership by means of exchanging information and experience in the sphere of nuclear and inspectional licensing. The partnership suggests information exchange, visits of experts, joint seminars, consulting sessions, joint research and projects.
TVEL Fuel Company has delivered TVS-2M nuclear fuel for the 7th refueling of the 1st unit of the Tianwan NPP. The fuel was produced by Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (JSC NNCP within the JSC TVEL’s management circuit). Currently the Tianwan NPP operates two types of fuel assemblies – TVS-2M and UTVS. The deliveries of modified fuel for the 1st unit of the Tianwan NPP until 2020 have been contracted since 2013. The Chinese side plans to resume the negotiations on further deliveries in several years.
The XVIII session of the Russian-French Intergovernmental Commission on the Issues of the Bilateral Cooperation at the level of heads of governments was held on November 1. The commission discussed areas and prospects of the Russian-French relations. The discussed priority economic topics included issues of the cooperation in energy, space, joint projects in the field of infrastructure, aircraft industry, machine engineering, as well as education and culture. A number of documents were signed basing on results of the commission’s session. In particular, the Russian-French declaration in the field of nuclear power was signed. It points out that both countries in future intend to retain “an important place in the energy mix” for nuclear power. The parties agreed to “jointly act to continuously improve the level of nuclear safety.”
The representatives of Rosatom’s Central Institute for Continuing Education and Training visited Munich (Germany) by invitation of TÜV SÜD (included in the TÜV independent supervisor organization network). The parties discussed possible partnership, for instance, certifying personnel while training to operate nuclear objects in the counties recently joined atomic energy and preparing future suppliers for NPP needs. As a result the parties signed a memorandum of understanding which will be followed by training sessions in the named spheres starting from 2014.
General Director of Vladimir’s Tochmash plant (a multi-profile enterprise doing precision engineering and nuclear power projects), Vladinir Akhmadyshev, meat with the head of Nomura Research Institute – NRI Moscow branch, Ivao Ohashi to speak about the possibility of organizing industrial park on the plant’s territory and establishing assembling factories of Japanese enterprises in Vladimir. The NRI is called the brain of Japanese business, it helps Japanese enterprises entering Russian market and evaluates major infrastructure projects. The NRI analysts offered their own project of the industrial park, suggesting construction of additional objects and attracting residents. The parties discussed details of the possible agreement and how to offer Japanese investors to open their branches on the plant’s territory. Mr. Ivao Ohashi saw good potential of the Tochmash industrial park and promised to invite leading Japanese producers to Vladimir shortly.
