May 31, 2023 – Framatome announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of a global strategic relationship with Slovenské elektrárne. The signing ceremony took place in Bratislava during the visit and meeting between the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron and the President of the Slovak Republic, Zuzana Caputova.
This MoU sets up the basis for future strategy and an agreement for further discussions about the extension of the long-term commercial relationship between Framatome and Slovenské elektrárne on identified additional domains of interest in nuclear. These domains of expertise include nuclear operations and maintenance, nuclear fuel, safety instrumentation & control and cybersecurity, as well as the feasibility of nuclear medicine and radioisotope production in Slovakia.
“Framatome is fully engaged in supporting the Slovak Republic nuclear industry and energy policy. This agreement confirms the trust our customer, Slovenské elektrárne, has placed in us over the years,” said Bernard Fontana, CEO of Framatome. “This further demonstrates our will to pursue this strong cooperation that contributes to Slovakia’s national security and diversification of supply for their VVER plant. Our customers count on our robust and reliable expertise, experience and integrated supply chain – especially in the area of nuclear fuel.”
Framatome is present in Slovakia with more than 100 employees working in the country. This MoU builds upon a historical relationship and cooperation between Slovenské elektrárne and Framatome in nuclear operation and maintenance, as well as services provided by Framatome for both Bohunice and Mochovce nuclear power plants. Framatome supplied the safety instrumentation and control system to the recently built Mochovce 3&4 reactors.
“Nuclear power plants in Slovakia are key pillars of our national energy security. I consider diversification of nuclear fuel supply for stable and secure operation of Bohunice and Mochovce power plants to be one of our main tasks. I am very pleased that we have teamed up with Framatome on this project in cooperation with other European operators of VVER-440 reactors,” said Branislav Strýček, CEO of Slovenské elektrárne.
In the current international context, Framatome was requested by all European VVER operating utilities, including Slovenské elektrárne, to contribute to the development of a sovereign European fuel solution that avoids any disruption in critical services and reduces dependence on European imports.
Framatome’s response to this accelerated need is a stepped approach in the fuel product transition that reduces risks and provides certainty, safety and continuity in the European VVER plants operations.
In the short term, Framatome is setting up its European fuel manufacturing facilities and supply chain operations based on the proven, reliable and efficient incumbent fuel used by the European VVER reactors. This does not require any modification to the reactor or licensing processes and contributes to a stock of European components from the licensed and qualified design.
In parallel, for the mid-term, Framatome is progressing on the development of a fully European sovereign nuclear fuel product with the support and cooperation of the European VVER utilities.
“For several years now, Framatome has been developing an industrial solution to support VVER nuclear operators with respective short- and mid-term needs, for both VVER 1000 MW and VVER 440 MW reactors,” highlighted Lionel Gaiffe, senior executive vice president of the Fuel Business Unit at Framatome. “In the mid-term, Framatome is the only fuel supplier able to guarantee a sovereign European solution, including 100% European design, manufacturing and components supply chain, based on a long-term and proven expertise and track records.”
There are 18 VVER operating reactors in Europe, including four VVER 1,000 MW reactors in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, and 14 VVER 440 MW reactors in Finland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
Framatome CEO Bernard Fontana shakes hands with CEO Branislav Strýček and Michele Bologna, First Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Slovenské elektrárne following the MoU signature.
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