The involvement of ÚJV Řež and other Czech companies in shipments of spent nuclear fuel from nuclear research reactors

Abstract

ÚJV Řež is extensively involved in a program concerning the shipment of spent nuclear fuel from nuclear research reactors to the respective countries of origin. One of the objectives of the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) is to reduce the global threat potentially posed by the use of highly-enriched uranium (HEU) fuel in nuclear research reactors. The program is underway in cooperation with the USA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Russian Federation and China, and is funded primarily by the USA. A significant factor concerns the use of the Czech ŠKODA VPVR/M cask, which was developed and produced by ŠKODA JS. As part of the Russian Research Reactor Fuel Return (RRRFR) program, spent nuclear fuel from the LVR-15 nuclear research reactor at Řež was shipped from Czechia to the Russian Federation in 2007 and 2013. Non-irradiated nuclear fuel and other nuclear materials were also shipped from Czechia to the Russian Federation as part of the RRRFR program.ÚJV Řež is also involved in the shipment of spent nuclear fuel from other countries. ÚJV Řež has participated in seventeen shipments from twelve countries involving a total of 3,328 kg of uranium, of which 713 kg of HEU. This highlights Czechia’s commitment and positive contribution to global efforts to secure nuclear materials against misuse.