On Mar 20 2009 representatives of NFC (India) inspected JSC MSZ (Elektrostal), subsidiary of JSC TVEL, and signed a protocol of acceptance of the first 30 metric tons of uranium dioxide pellets for Indian nuclear power plants.

The principles of long-term partnership and complex approach towards cooperation stipulated by the contract with NFC allow TVEL not only to effectively plan the use of its industrial capacities but also to actively develop innovative technologies and to manufacture products maximally tailored to the needs of the client.

Technical Director of MSZ plant Igor Petrov pointed out that the pellets were unique in a number parameters, particularly, in their geometry, tough specifications and exclusive visual standards. 'We have done our work well and our partners have accepted our product', Petrov said.

'Under this contract we have applied lots of innovative technologies and solutions such as automatic stacking of pellets after their pressing in molybdenum sintering boats, automatic visual control and polyethylene packaging. Our Indian partners have highly evaluated our innovations. We believe that these technologies are technologies of the future and we will apply them to other types of pellets', Petrov said.

The visit was part of the long-term contract for the supply of fuel pellets for Indian nuclear power plants concluded by JSC TVEL and the Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India in Mumbai Feb 11 2009. TVEL is the first company to have signed a long-term contract for delivery of nuclear fuel to India after the lifting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group’s restrictions on India (Sept 6 2008). The total cost of the contracts exceeds $700mln.

The first delivery to Hyderabad (India) is scheduled for the spring 2009. The pellets produced at MSZ will be used at Indian nuclear reactors. TVEL also fabricates and supplies fuel for Kudankulam NPP, a project that is being jointly implemented by Russian and Indian constructors.

Note

TVEL Corporation is one of the world’s leading producers of nuclear fuel. 74 industrial (17% of the world market) and 30 research reactors in 14 countries work on the fuel produced by TVEL. The corporation comprises Mashinostoitelny Zavod (MSZ or Elemash, Elektrostal, Moscow region), Chepetsk Mechanical Plant (Glazov, Udmurtia), Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrate Plant (Novosibirsk), Chemical Mining Combine (Krasnoyarsk).100% of its shares belong to Atomenergoprom OJSC.

Atomenergoprom JSC (Atomny Energopromyshleny Kompleks) is a state holding that is supposed to comprise 89 nuclear companies and to cover the whole range of nuclear services: from uranium mining to NPP construction and electricity production.