Could NNRI's container project be involved?
In June 2008 Russia will take away highly enriched uranium from Sofia Nuclear Physics Institute
In June 2008 Russia will take away highly enriched uranium from Sofia Nuclear Physics Institute and will help the institute to switch to low-enriched fuel, the head of Rosatom Sergey Kiriyenko told journalists in Sofia on Jan 18.
“Today, we are signing an intergovernmental agreement that Russia will replace the research reactor of the Academy of Sciences of Bulgaria, the reactor built by Russian specialists, because it uses highly enriched uranium,” Kiriyenko said.
Kiriyenko explained to the journalists that highly enriched uranium could be used for production of weapons and reminded them that Russia and the United States had RERTR (Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors) program for replacement of research reactors using highly enriched uranium by safe civil reactors.
“According to the agreement, in June 2008 we will take away the highly enriched uranium, will replace the reactor so it can work on low-enriched uranium and will supply the new reactor with necessary fuel,” Kiriyenko said.
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In the future the number of units at Belene NPP may be increased from two to four
In the future the number of units at Belene NPP may be increased from two to four, the head of Rosatom Sergey Kiriyenko said during a press-conference in Sofia on Jan 18.
«There is no sense in building just two units at Belene NPP. If the construction of the first two units proves successful, we may consider building two more units there,» Kiriyenko said.
He reminded the journalists that Russian Atomstroyexport had won the right to build Belene NPP under NPP-92 project (two VVER-1000/V-466 reactors). «Today, we are signing a contract worth 4bln EUR – quite a big sum for the commodity turnover of Russia and Bulgaria. The NPP-92 project has been grated an EU license and, now, we have no problems with building the plant,» Kiriyenko said.
“Energy demand is growing not only in Bulgaria but in the whole Balkan region. So, it is extremely important to build modern NPP in the region as quickly as possible,” Kiriyenko said.
On Oct 31 2006 the National Electric Company of Bulgaria officially proclaimed Atomstroyexport as the winner of the tender for the construction of Belene NPP under Russian NPP-92 project – a plant with two VVER-1000/V-466 reactors. The key rival of Atomstroyexport and its partners Areva NP and Siemens were Skoda Alliance and Westinghouse. The victory in the tender has opened up new prospects for Russian nuclear technologies in Europe.
The preliminary agreement was signed in 2006. The project was launched on Jan 1 2007. The conceptual design is ready, now, Atomstroyexport is drafting the technical design and is recruiting managers.
It is a turn key project unlike the projects carried out by ASE in China and India. Russia is fully responsible for the management of the project.
17.01.2008 // Press service of Atomstroyexport CJSC
On Jan 17 2008 President of Atomstroyexport CJSC Sergey Shmatko left for Bulgaria as part of the Russian delegation led by Russian President Vladimir Putin
During the visit Atomstroyexport is planning to sign a contract with the National Electric Company of Bulgaria for the construction of Belene Nuclear Power Plant.
On Oct 31 2006 the National Electric Company of Bulgaria officially proclaimed Atomstroyexport as the winner of the tender for the construction of Belene NPP under Russian NPP-92 project – a plant with two VVER-1000/V-466 reactors. The key rival of Atomstroyexport and its partners Areva NP and Siemens were Skoda Alliance and Westinghouse. The victory in the tender has opened up new prospects for Russian nuclear technologies in Europe.
The preliminary agreement was signed in 2006. The project was launched on Jan 1 2007. The conceptual design is ready, now, Atomstroyexport is drafting the technical design and is recruiting managers.
Note
Atomstroyexport CJSC is the leading Russian company implementing contracts for the construction of nuclear power plants abroad.
Belene NPP is a unique combination of active and passive safety systems. The project received EUR certificate in 2007.
Atomstroyexport’s proposal is important for integration of Russian-European experience in NPP construction. Part of equipment will be supplied by the key partner of Atomstroyexport, CARSIB Consortium(«Areva NP» and «Siemens»).
In Dec 2007 European Commission officially approved the investment plan of the project.
