Innovative Equipment for Managing Spent Nuclear Fuel Sent to the Akkuyu NPP

The new generation transport package has passed necessary tests and international certification according to IAEA standards

On February 10, 2024, the dispatch of the pilot model of TUK-137T.A1 transport package for the Akkuyu NPP, as well as equipment for its managing at the nuclear power plant, took place in the town of Vyksa (Nizhny Novgorod Region). The equipment was manufactured at the production site of Ruspolimet JSC, the customer was TENEX JSC (Sales and Trading Division of ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation).

TUK-137T.A1 is a new generation cask designed for managing spent nuclear fuel (SNF) after it is unloaded from the Akkuyu NPP cooling pool. The cask allows accommodating 18 spent fuel assemblies (SFA), their transportation and storage. TUK-137T.A1 cask passed necessary tests at the manufacturing plant, and the Russian regulator certified it for compliance with the national safety requirements (NP-053-16) and international IAEA standards (SSR-6, Rev.1).

The development and production of innovative casks of the TUK-137T family take place as part of the development of ROSATOM’s product line “Balanced Nuclear Fuel Cycle” (Balanced NFC), which provides for the creation of a safe and cost-effective system for managing spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and its processing products for customer countries. Balanced NFC ensures efficient recycling of regenerated nuclear material and significant reduction of RW volume and activity due to SNF processing and fractionation of high level waste. The implementation of the product line is based on the principles of responsible consumption and production, maximum application of innovative solutions and close international cooperation.