Simple Switch to US Nuclear Fuel for Ukraine Plants Impossible - IAEA Official

[dipsydoodle]

MOSCOW, May 23 (RIA Novosti) - Simply switching from Russian-made nuclear fuel to its US equivalent for use in Ukrainian reactors is impossible, Miroslav Lipar, an official from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.

The Ukrainian Energy Ministry has recently announced plans to diversify the country's supply of nuclear fuel to reduce the current dependency on a single supplier - Russian state-controlled nuclear fuel producer TVEL.

Ukraine's national nuclear power agency Energoatom earlier agreed to extend a fuel supply agreement with US-based company Westinghouse until 2020. Some experts consider the deal a threat to nuclear safety in the region.

"If Ukraine decides to change all fuel, then from the IAEA's point of view it's impossible, because this is not a simple metal part, this is very important from the safety viewpoint," Miroslav Lipar, Head of the IAEA Operational Safety Section, told reporters on Wednesday.

http://en.ria.ru/world/20140523/190080207/Simple-Switch-to-US-Nuclear-Fuel-for-Ukraine-Plants-Impossible--.html

[FBaggins]

1. Clarification on RIA Novosti Story

"On 21 May, RIA Novosti news agency published a story headlined IAEA Says Impossible for Ukraine to Switch to US Nuclear Fuel, based on apparent remarks by an Agency official during a News Conference in Moscow.

There was some confusion about the official's remarks, which were made in Russian. The resulting RIA Novosti story does not accurately reflect his words, nor the position of the IAEA, which is as follows:


* The choice of supplier for nuclear fuel is the prerogative of the nuclear operator. Such an approach is not unique to Ukraine[br].
* Any change in the supply of fuel to a nuclear power plant requires careful safety assessment and testing. [br]
* Any such modifications should be approved by the national regulatory body in accordance with national laws, applicable safety regulations and industry best practices."

http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/2014/prn201413.html