September 10, 2023, marked a milestone for Ukrainian nuclear industry. For the first time, American nuclear fuel manufactured by Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB in cooperation with Energoatom specialists was loaded into the VVER-440 reactor at Rivne NPP.
This strategic step significantly strengthened Ukraine's energy independence, finally breaking russia's monopoly on the nuclear fuel market. Previously, reactors of this type operated only on russian-manufactured nuclear fuel.
After two years of operation, Westinghouse fuel at RNPP has fully met the expectations of Ukrainian and international experts. It has demonstrated stable and reliable performance, confirming its high quality and safety. All reactor performance indicators remain within standards, while the fuel has proven itself an effective and safe alternative to russian assemblies.
The use of American nuclear fuel in VVER-440 reactors has once again shown the world that nuclear power generation can and will develop without the technologies of the aggressor country.
