Sergey Kondratyev, a senior expert of Fund “Institute of Power Industry and Finance”»:

 — Russian suppliers’ return to the Czech market appears so much reasonable, although they returned at the initiative of the operating company (CEZ) in opposition of the state government’s policy carried on lately and aimed at enhancement of the American and European companies’ role in this field.

Temelin, the largest NPP in the Czech Republic, is starting to use Russian nuclear fuel. The operation of its first power unit will be stopped for two months in order to perform necessary engineering works. Then, this procedure will be carried out at the second power unit. TVEL LLC, a Russian company, will supply the nuclear fuel. It will be the sole fuel supplier for Czech and Sloval NPP. The Russian raw material appeared to have a higher quality than its analogue supplied by Westinghouse (USA). Moreover, its usage will allow reducing the expenses for operation of national NPP constructed with the assistance of the USSR, and then Russia. The contract for supply of the Russian fuel to Temelin NPP is supposed to be concluded for ten years with the option of its further prolongation. It is expected to supply about 400 tons of fuel is for ten years. At present, the Russian nuclear fuel provides for operation of the Czech Dukovany NPP and Slovak Yaslovske-Bogunitse and Mokhovtse NPP.

Sergey Kondratyev, a senior expert of Fund “Institute of Power Industry and Finance”»:

«Over recent years Russia has come back to the markets of nuclear power supplies to the Eastern Europe countries. First of all it reflects the existing economic realia – these NPP were constructed with a view to use the Russian fuel and national governments’ attempts to give this market to the friendly western companies (Westinghouse) led only to growth of the operational costs. Russian suppliers’ return to the Czech market appears so much reasonable, although they returned at the initiative of the operating company (CEZ) in opposition of the state government’s policy carried on lately and aimed at enhancement of the American and European companies’ role in this field.

Improvement of the performance in the Eastern Europe and perspectives of nuclear fuel European market deregulation provide the Russian companies with the opportunity to extend their supplies to the countries which operate the reactors of the western design. The control over significant raw materials, a lower production cost (in comparison with the American and European western companies) and other factors will contribute to this opportunity. However, in order to ensure successful promotion at new markets it is necessary not only to solve the technical problems, but to provide a comprehensive state support of supplies to these markets, as it will lead to additional export income, allow to increase the capacity utilization, increase the Russian enterprises’ competitive ability, and provide new work positions”.