Westinghouse Electric Co. and Slovenské elektrárne, an electric utility company, recently signed a long-term agreement. Under the agreement, Westinghouse will license and supply VVER-440 fuel assemblies to nuclear power plants in Slovakia.
“We are very pleased to contribute to Slovakia’s fuel diversification and to strengthen our long-standing partnership with Slovenské elektrárne,” Tarik Choho, Westinghouse president of nuclear fuel, said. “We offer the only fully-Western alternative fuel for this type of reactor and remain committed to supporting Slovakia’s operating fleet, leveraging our Swedish fabrication footprint.”
Westinghouse supplies numerous nuclear reactor types that it manufactures in the United States, the United Kingdom and Sweden. The reactors lower fuel cycle costs, increased operational flexibility and efficiency, diversity of supply, and accident-tolerant products, the company says.
“Securing another nuclear fuel supplier for our power plants is an important step in strengthening Slovakia’s energy security,” Branislav Strýček, Slovenské elektrárne general director, said. “Nuclear power plants represent an important pillar in our country’s energy mix, therefore I consider it to be crucial to secure nuclear fuel supply diversification for their stable operation.”
Approximately 59 percent of the electricity produced in Slovakia is generated by nuclear power plants.
Westinghouse’s global headquarters is located outside Pittsburgh in Cranberry Township.