Both winning companies are world leaders in nuclear energy. "Of course, we selected the best offers with regard to both safety and price. At the same time, however, our goal was to diversify the number of suppliers in order to minimise the risk of possible supply failures for any reason," explained Ladislav Štěpánek, Director of the Fuel Cycle Department at CEZ.
Westinghouse Electric Company is shaping the future of carbon-free energy by providing safe, innovative nuclear technologies to utilities globally. Westinghouse supplied the world’s first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957 and the company’s technology is the basis for nearly one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants.
“We welcome the decision of ČEZ group to diversify its nuclear fuel supply and to select Westinghouse as a supplier of nuclear fuel for Temelin Nuclear Power Plant. Westinghouse has developed and supplied for many years our own VVER fuel designs for both the VVER 1000 and the VVER 440 types of reactors. We are extremely happy that our successful experience in supplying VVER fuel is going to benefit CEZ," said Tarik Choho, President of EMEA Operating Plant Services.
Framatome is an international leader in nuclear energy with more than 60 years of experience, designing, servicing and installing components, producing nuclear fuel and supplying instrumentation and control systems for nuclear power plants. It is a supplier for more than 380 reactors worldwide.
“Framatome is pleased to have been chosen by ČEZ as supplier to contribute to Temelin plant’s fuel security of supply,“ declared Lionel Gaiffe, Senior Executive Vice President, Fuel Business Unit at Framatome. “This is the result of a long term partnership between ČEZ and Framatome and demonstrates the confidence of ČEZ in the reliability of our fuel solution regarding their need and requirement to produce low carbon energy in Czech Republic“.
Both companies should start deliveries to the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant in 2024. Currently, ČEZ has fuel assemblies for approximately two years of operation. The volume of the stock at the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant is even higher.
"We decided to increase the stockpile volume at both nuclear power plants in 2016. Thanks to this, we have enough assemblies at Dukovany for approximately three years of operation of all the units. Of course, we continue to think about the diversification of suppliers," added Bohdan Zronek, a member of the Board of Directors and Director of the Nuclear Power Division.
CEZ Group is one of the most important economic entities in the Czech Republic. It operates in Western, Central and South-Eastern Europe. The main business activities are the generation, distribution, trade and sale of electricity and heat, the trade and sales of natural gas, the provision of complex energy services and coal mining. It is one of the ten largest energy companies in Europe, with more than 7 million customers and approximately 28,000 employees.