The first batch of nuclear fuel produced for Akkuyu NPP Unit 2 reached the site in December 2024; the assemblies, shipped in special transport containers, were placed in the fresh fuel storage facility.
The first batch of nuclear fuel produced for Unit 2 of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant arrived at the plant site in December 2024. As reported by World Nuclear News, the fuel assemblies were delivered in special transport containers and placed in the fresh fuel storage facility on site. Source
The fuel was manufactured at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant, part of TVEL, Rosatom's fuel company. Source The transport was carried out in line with international nuclear safety requirements.
163 fuel assemblies, enrichment of up to 5 percent
According to Nuclear Engineering International, one core load of a VVER-1200 reactor consists of 163 fuel assemblies containing uranium enriched to up to 5 percent. The arrival of the first batch therefore marked the start of building up the fuel inventory that will later be loaded into the Unit 2 reactor.
Key facts of the delivery:
- Manufacturer: Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (TVEL / Rosatom)
- Transport: special transport containers, in line with international nuclear safety requirements
- Storage: the fresh fuel storage facility on site
- VVER-1200 core load: 163 fuel assemblies with uranium enriched to up to 5 percent
A specialised field of sensitive cargo transport
Moving sensitive cargo such as nuclear fuel in containers that comply with international rules is among the most strictly regulated tasks in the field of nuclear project transportation.
The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant project comprises four VVER-1200 reactor units. The acceptance of the first fuel batch for Unit 2 on site was recorded as one of the steps towards the unit's commissioning preparations.
The sources do not state the exact day of the delivery; the reports by World Nuclear News dated 3 January 2025 and by Nuclear Engineering International dated 6 January 2025 say the fuel reached the site at the end of December 2024.