FUEL ELEMENT, ESD

Main article: Nuclear fuel

Enterprise as part of Rosatom State Corporation. 100% of its shares are owned by Atomenergoprom.

TVEL JSC was established in 1996, on the basis of the State Concern TVEL founded in 1991 (formerly the Third Main Technological Directorate of the USSR Ministry of Nuclear power and Industry). The company combined enterprises producing fuel assemblies and their components.

As of 2022, TVEL produces more than a third of the world's enriched uranium products.

Structure

• TochMash
• Centrotech-SPb
• Centrotech NGO
• VNIINM named after Bochvara
• Chepetsk Mechanical Plant (ChMZ, TVEL)
• Novosibirsk Chemical Concentration Plant (TVEL) NZHK
• Siberian Chemical Plant, FSUE
• Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Plant (AECC), FSUE
• Ural Electrochemical Plant (UEC)

Products

The main type of product produced by TVEL is nuclear fuel. The company provides nuclear fuel to 74 power reactors in Russia and fifteen countries in Europe and Asia, 30 research reactors in the world, as well as all transport reactors of the Russian nuclear fleet. Every sixth power reactor in the world runs on fuel made by TVEL.

Production of fuel cartridges of the nuclear power reactor, 2019

The company combines production and scientific assets in the field of nuclear fuel fabrication, separation and sublimate complex, as well as the production of gas centrifuges and equipment for them.

In addition to the main products, TVEL supplies non-nuclear products to the Russian and world markets: zirconium, lithium, calcium, magnets, thin-walled pipes, polishing powders, tribe machines, zeolite catalysts and other materials.

Sales markets

The directions for the sale of products are the CIS countries (Ukraine, Armenia), Central and Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Finland), as well as the states of Western Europe and Asia. Nuclear power plants in China and India operate on TVEL nuclear fuel . In addition, in cooperation with a foreign partner, the company's enterprises produce fuel for nuclear power plants in Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

According to data as of July 2023, every sixth energy reactor in the world runs on fuel fuel. As the sole supplier of nuclear fuel to Russian nuclear power plants, TVEL provides fuel for a total of 75 power reactors in 15 countries, research reactors in nine countries around the world, as well as transport reactors of the Russian nuclear fleet.

Financial performance

2023

Profit growth to 66.7 billion rubles

According to the results of 2023, TVEL JSC earned revenue in the amount of 313.9 billion rubles against 215.26 billion rubles a year earlier. The company's net profit also increased during this time - from 56.35 billion to 66.7 billion rubles. The fuel company "" Rosatom(consolidates all Russian assets of the state corporation in the field of nuclear fuel production, separation and sublimate complex, as well as the production of gas centrifuges and equipment for them) disclosed such data in its reporting under RAS, published in early April 2024.

According to Interfax, citing TVEL materials, in 2023 the company's gross profit reached 99.84 billion rubles, which significantly exceeds such a profit a year ago (60.38 billion rubles). Other revenues of the company increased from 1.26 billion to 16.12 billion rubles, and other expenses doubled and reached 8.12 billion rubles.

𝓲

Unsplash

Summing up the results of 2023, TVEL noted that during the reporting period the company ahead of schedule completed the implementation of the project for the rehabilitation of the territory of the Taboshar industrial site, located in the Istiklol city area in the Sogd region of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Also, according to a press release, the first stage of the project to eliminate the long-term storage of radioactive waste on the territory of the Ural Electrochemical Plant was completed ahead of schedule in the Urals and an agreement was signed on scientific and technical support for the Belarusian NPP on the preparation and decommissioning of nuclear power units.

In addition, the Rosatom fuel company concluded an agreement with the Udmurtia administration on cooperation in the implementation of an investment project to create a large-tonnage production of permanent rare-earth magnets in the city of Glazov.^[1]

Growth in nuclear fuel exports

The company's sales growth continues. The data on the graph does not take into account all deliveries of the company

At the end of 2023, imports of enriched uranium from Russia to the United States rose to a record level of $1.2 billion, which is 40% more than the volume of imports in 2022. Against the background of rising prices, imports also increased in physical volumes by about 20%, from 588 tons in 2022 to 702 tons in 2023.

The cost of nuclear fuel purchased from Russia by the EU countries in 2023 amounted to 686 million euros This is evidenced by the data of Eurostat and the UN international trade service Comtrade. An analysis of cross-border trade operations under the customs code "840130" (non-radiated fuel assemblies or fuel cells) shows more than a twofold increase in imports of nuclear fuel to EU countries in monetary terms - from 280 million euros in 2022 to 686 million euros in 2023. In physical terms, we are talking about an increase in supplies from 314 tons of nuclear fuel to 573 tons.

In the European Union, five countries buy nuclear fuel for 19 of their Soviet-designed reactors - VVER-440 or VVER-1000. These are:

• Czech Republic (Dukovany NPP with four VVER-400 and Temelin NPP with two VVER-1000),
• Slovakia (NPP "Mokhovce" and "Bogunice" with five VVER-440),
• Bulgaria (two VVER-1000 at the Kozloduy NPP),
• Hungary (four VVER-440 at Paks NPP) and
• Finland (two VVER-440 at Loviisa NPP).

The increase in imports in 2023 reflects the intention of NPP operators to hedge against the difficult sometimes change of suppliers.

Rosatom dominates global nuclear fuel supply chains, as of April 2023

In October 2023, the expansion of the storage facility was completed at the Czech Dukovany nuclear power plant, which is now capable of accommodating almost five years of fuel supply.

The volume of fuel imported in 2023 to Slovakia can cover the needs of six NPP units in the country for the next 2-3 years.

Digitalization

Main article: Digitalization of the fuel company "Rosatom" TVEL

History

2023

Presentation of fuel assemblies for Western design nuclear reactors

Specialists of the fuel company TVEL and other enterprises Rosatom involved in the creation of nuclear fuel presented China in the strategy for the development of nuclear fuel for reactors of the Russian design VVER, as well as solutions for fuel for low-power reactors. This is stated in the message of TVEL dated July 24, 2023. Particular attention was paid to the Russian Russian proposal for the design of fuel assemblies (fuel assemblies) and fuel cycles for western design light-water reactors PWR based on the Russian design fuel TVSK.

As is known, PWR light-water reactors act as a basis. nuclear power China^[2] AND, Russia as the manufacturer of TVSK - the only nuclear fuel in the world market, completely independent of the developers of the original PWR reactor technology, can become a supplier of FA for China and others. countries

Rosatom presented fuel assemblies for Western-designed nuclear reactors

According to the statement of TVEL representatives, "TVSK used the best materials and technical solutions of Russian development, which proved their effectiveness during the long-term production and operation of Russian fuel for VVER reactors."

The production of TVS-Kvadrat nuclear fuel was organized at the TVEL enterprise - the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentration Plant (PJSC NZHK). In 2020, the experimental batch of TVSK completed the cycle of operation in the PWR-900 reactor at power unit No. 3 of the Ringhals NPP in Sweden. Irradiated fuel was sent to the Studsvik Scientific Center in Sweden for post-reactor research, the main phase of which ended in the fall of 2021. According to Natalia Nikipelova, President of TVEL JSC, the reference operating experience and post-reactor studies confirmed the declared characteristics of Russian fuel for PWR. The launch of TVS-Kvadrat on the global market will ensure the diversification of PWR fuel supplies not only by suppliers, but also by technology.^[3]

Russian experts presented detailed reports on the high performance of TVSK fuel based on the experience of full-cycle operation in the European PWR-900 reactor and post-reactor research at an independent scientific center. Excellent fuel behavior under industrial conditions was demonstrated, as well as opportunities for the introduction of TVSK with an increased level of uranium enrichment and an integrated burnout absorber, with an increase in the fuel cycle of power units due to this, which will make the operation of the nuclear power plant more cost-effective.

"TVSK fuel gives NPP operators unique advantages: increasing the production performance of power units based on proven solutions, improving operational safety - and all this together with increasing the stability of fuel supply chains thanks to fully independent technical solutions of Rosatom," said Ilya Ushmarov, project manager of the TVS-Kvadrat program group at TVEL JSC.[4]

Earlier on April 16, 2023,, and Canada France Japan Britain USA announced plans to jointly displace Russia nuclear fuel from global supply chains. It is stated that the G7 countries are combining nuclear fuel potential to challenge. Russia

2022: The joint company "Rosatom" and D-Link in the first year of the production of switches was able to earn 183 million rubles

The manufacturer of T-Com switches, controlled by TVEL (part of the state corporation Rosatom) in 2022 received revenue of about 183.2 million rubles and a net loss of 13.8 million rubles. Read more here.

2021: Closing the deal with D-Link to create a joint venture for the production of telecom equipment

TVEL May 20, 2021 announced the completion of the transaction to create a domestic enterprise for the production of network and telecommunication equipment. The JV partner was the international company D-Link Corporation. Limited Liability Company "T-Com," with shares of participation of TVEL JSC partners - 60%, D-Link Corporation, represented by an exclusive representative in Russia, D-Link Trade LLC - 40%, was registered on February 20, 2021. Read more here.

2020: Russia dominates the global uranium enrichment market

Share of countries in uranium enrichment in 2020

2015: "TVEL" and Ural scientists will create a domestic 3D printer

In January 2015, the fuel company Rosatoma - TVEL announced the readiness of its Novouralsk enterprises to implement projects in the field of 3D technologies together with partners - specialists from the Ural Federal University (UrFU) and the NTO IRE-Polus enterprise from the Moscow Region.

Enterprises controlled by TVEL are already working in the field of 3D technologies. At one of the plants of the Ural Electrochemical Plant (UEC, a subsidiary of TVEL), in particular, the direction of powder metallurgy is developing: plants are being developed and manufactured to obtain high-quality powders for the so-called granule metallurgy.

According to TVEL, the first task is to adapt these installations so that the quality of the powders is suitable for 3D technologies. And the second is to create your own powder layer synthesis unit.

Oleg Elistratov, Deputy General Director of UEC for the Development of Non-Nuclear Business, notes that the global market for systems, services and materials for additive technologies (note - technologies for creating a product by layer-by-layer addition of material in various ways) is more than $3 billion. Over the next decade, at least a quadruple increase is expected.

Oleg Elistratov, Deputy General Director of UEC for the Development of Non-Nuclear Business

"However, the number of metal additive systems installed in Russia is negligible compared to the global market: only about 20 against 1,500-1,700 units," says Elistratov. "Foreign equipment is a very expensive pleasure, especially since it is affected by sanctions."

He adds that pure titanium powder To Europe costs 230 euros per kilogram, aluminum - about 90 euros per kilogram, and in Russia they are sold two to three times more expensive. World demand - up to 900 tons per year. "Without import substitution and the development of these technologies in Russia, additive systems and their products will not be profitable for us," says Oleg Elistratov.

"We are confident that the properly built cooperation of nuclear industry enterprises with Russian engineering and scientific centers will make it possible to implement projects to create a Russian powder layer synthesis plant and organize the production of granular powders to ensure its operation, effectively using the accumulated personnel, scientific, technical and technological potential of Rosatom State Corporation enterprises," he added

In UrFU, in turn, the first engineering center for laser and additive technologies in Russia is engaged in 3D technologies, which began work in 2014. Its main functions are the development of projects for the modernization of enterprises, training in technologies and technological methods based on the latest technological principles, as well as the provision of services for the manufacture of single copies of unique products. For work, the center uses German-made 3D printers.

Notes