JSC Mashinostroitelny zavod - daughter company of JSC ÒVEL - produced the first set of 12 fuel casettes and 6 ÒVS ÀRK of the second generation fuel with gadolinium for the Hungarian Paks NPP. In 2009, the fuel will be used in the 4th block and in 2010 Paks NPP will order similar fuel also for other blocks and so it will replace the spent nuclear fuel.

The second generation fuel VVER-440 was developed in Russia and is produced by the Mashinostroitelny zavod for all clients who order VVER-440 fuel, including the nuclear power stations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Finland (since the end of 2008).

According to the Deputy Head of the JSC Mashinostroitelny zavod technical department Vasilij Kolosovskij, «special composition of the second generation VVER-440 fuel which was developed with participation of specialists from the factory, allows to increase the effectivity of work of the station and at the same time to adhere to all safety parameters».

«For Paks NPP the second generation fuel VVER-440 with gadolinium was proposed, composition of which allows to increase the mass of the fuel what increases uranium burn-out and prolongs the life of operation of the fuel. Specialists from our factory adopted measures to increase preciseness of the produced components of the fuel due to installment of a new equipment. At present, the enterprise is the unique producer of the fuel for the reactors of the VVER-440 type in the world», - said Kolosovskij.

At present time, works connected with start of the third generation VVER-440 fuel (RK-3) started – in cooperation with several Russian scientific centres. Composition of RK-3 allows to increase uranium charging, it does not iclude spare materials – zirconium cover, has carrying corners, as it is in the composition of ÒVSA VVER-1000. Such change in the ration of individual materials in the fuel – more uranium and less zirconium as well as increased steps for the order of fuel-rod arrays in distance grids, provides a better effect during its implementation by the customers.

«Solution of those tasks requires cooperation of production workshops with other departments of the factoty, - stresses Vasilij Kolosovskij, - at this moment the factory has finalised works connected with implementation of the given project concerning processing of the fuel-rod arrays welding technology. A working construction documentation, schemes of equipment for measuring apparatus».

In 2010, the JSC Mashinostroitelny zavod will also produce 12  fuel assemblies of RK-3 VVER-440 for supply to the Russian Kola NPP.