The Russian company Tvel, which as of next year will be the sole provider of nuclear fuel for Czech nuclear power plants, is considering producing this fuel in the Czech Republic, according to information from Czech and Russian business sources.
Tvel is now negotiating to build a facility to produce the fuel in Ukraine, but it is also interested in producing it in an EU country.
Already two weeks ago Tvel vice-president Vasily Konstantinov explained on Russian radio why the company is interested in moving some of its production in the Czech Republic, but media has paid little attention to this. Besides the Czech Republic’s membership in the EU, other factors that make the country a good candidate are that the Czech Republic uses Russian reactors and is planning on expanding its nuclear power capacity. ČEZ, moreover, wants to take part in building two reactors in Slovakia. “Given these conditions, the Czech Republic is attractive for us,” said Konstantinov. According to information available to E15, Tvel, which is part of the national holding Atomenergoprom, is even willing to cancel its agreement with Ukraine and look for a partner to build the production complex in the Czech Republic. Konstantinov suggests that the ownership of this complex will still be open to discussion.
At the same time, it is probably no accident that Konstantinov made these comments while Tvel is in the midst of difficult negotiations with Ukraine. Ukraine should decide by mid July whether it will agree with the construction of the complex or whether it will give the commission to the company Westinghouse. Some Ukrainian politicians, including President Viktor Yushchenko, are warning against too much dependance on Russia. But according to Ukrainian experts, Tvel is offering better prices and quality.
When it comes to nuclear fuel supplies, as of next year, the Czech Republic will be relying exclusively on Tvel – after Dukovany even at the Temelín power plant. One can expect here too there will be concern over too much dependence on Russia. The construction of the new complex would likely have a number of opponents.
According to information available to E15, those in favour of the project could argue that the Czech Republic could export nuclear fuel to dozens of countries around the world. It could also strengthen its “logical partnership” with ČEZ, which operates Czech nuclear power plants. According to spokeswoman Eva Nováková, the Russian company has not contacted ČEZ yet.
Those criticising too much reliance on Russia when it comes to nuclear power have argued in the past that nuclear fuel is a very specialised product made for specific types of reactors. So it is not possible to quickly change suppliers, which in the case of the Czech Republic would increase its dependence on Tvel. Konstantinov, moreover, says that one condition for building the fuel production complex is that the country where it is based signs a long-term contract for fuel supply with Tvel.
But experts say that nuclear fuel should not be compared to strategic natural resources such as oil and gas. It can be safely stored for many years and Tvel is willing to sell extra supplies of fuel for future use. So this would mean that the Czech Republic’s reliance on Russia would not be so great.
