A SUCCESSFUL 2008 FOR ATOMENERGOPROM
Nuclear Engineering
ectioncode=132&storyCode=2053573
July 14 2009
JSC Atomenergoprom performed better than expected in 2008 – its
first year of full operations – according to the company’s latest
annual report.
Atomenergoprom’s total revenue amounted to RUR305.5 billion ($9.4
billion) in 2008, exceeding the target by over 7%. The targeted
net profit of RUR27 billion ($0.8 billion) was also achieved. The
holding’s export earnings totalled $4.5 billion (including HEU-LEU
agreement implemented by JSC TENEX).
Rosatom, the sole shareholder of JSC Atomenergoprom, has approved
the firm’s 2008 annual report and accounting statements. Below is a
summary of the report.
The last year turned out to be the record one for Russia in terms of
NPP output – 162.3 billion kWh (2% more than in 2007) was achieved
without commissioning of the new units. The capacity factor rose to
79.5%. As result of such improvements, Atomenergoprom ranked first
among Russian generation companies in terms of power generation output.
Russian uranium production increased by 3% in 2008, up to 3521t, or
by 4.5% and 3687t if JV Zarechnoye (Kazakhstan) output is taken into
account. The company formed a number of joint ventures for uranium
exploration and production in Armenia, Namibia, Canada and Russia,
and assessed potential Russian involvement in uranium production
projects in Ukraine, Mongolia and other countries.
Atomenergoprom also increased international cooperation in 2008. The
company entered into contracts for comprehensive supplies of
nuclear fuel after 2010 to nuclear power plants in Slovakia,
and the Option Agreement involving provision by JSC TVEL of fuel
fabrication services for the operating and near-finished NPP units
throughout their operation period. The company also entered into
contracts with the Chinese Nuclear Energy Company for construction
of the gas centrifuge plant, and a long-term contract for supply
of Russian EUP/SWU. On 20 March 2008, in Moscow, Atomenergoprom and
Toshiba Corporation entered into a framework agreement on business
cooperation in various spheres. JSC Atomenergomash acquired the
controlling block of shares in Guns Energetika in Hungary and formed
on the basis thereof a Russia-Hungary joint venture for production
of NPP refuelling equipment.
Russia continued to upgrade its nuclear technologies over the past
year. In 2008 the development and production of new generation
gas centrifuges continued. JSC ChMZ completed construction of the
superconductors production facility, furthering Russia’s international
obligations under ITER programme. The company developed technical
and feasibility documents for TVSA-PLUS and TVS-2M with higher
active zone for operations at Balakovo, Volgodonsk and Kalinin
nuclear power stations for 1.5 years under at the increased power
levels. The company worked out the five-year fuel cycle programmes,
design and feasibility documents enabling the use of 2nd generation
fuel at Bohunice, Mohovce, Dukovany, Paks and Loviisa nuclear power
plants at the increased capacity levels.
In 2008 Atomenergoprom also established the Russian Gas Centrifuge
Engineering Center to act as the HQ to be responsible for design
and production of primary and auxiliary equipment for separation
enterprises within the nuclear fuel cycle and consolidation of R&D
and production assets.
TVEL
2008 was also a successful year for Russia’s nuclear fuel company,
JSC TVEL. Total sales in 2008 amounted to RUR52 billion, compared with
RUR37 billion in 2007. The company net profit was RUR29.93 billion,
six times higher than in 2007 when it was RUR5.83 billion.
TVEL fully fulfilled its contractual obligations on nuclear fuel
delivery to Russian and foreign energy and research reactors.
Also in 2008, JSC TVEL completed a number of important tasks
that enabled to keep its positions among the four biggest nuclear
fuel suppliers in the world and also created a basis for further
development. As a result of a successful tender, a strategic contact
with the Slovenské elektrárne company (Slovakia) was signed,
arrangements of commercial based pricing mechanisms with the Eastern
and Central European partners were reached, preparation for conversion
to fuel of the second generation for reactors VVER-440 started in
Ukraine and Hungary.
In 2008, in the area of "sales of products in USA" contacts with
11 from 31 nuclear power plants operators were established and
arrangements with legal and technical consultants were reached and
also a project presentation was made in JSC MBP.
The last year was very important for JSC TVEL also in putting the
zirconium components and regenerated uranium on the market. One
of the important results was preparation of contract documents for
semi-processed materials for nuclear fuel delivery to India. After
de-restriction of nuclear materials trading for this country, TVEL
was the first company that offered mutually profitable conditions
for nuclear materials supply.