Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant (Rosatom) has, for the first time in its history, loaded a batch of next-generation TVS-5 nuclear fuel assemblies into Unit 6, a reactor of the VVER-1200 type.

Unit 6 was reconnected to the power grid at 19:01 (Moscow time) on June 7 following scheduled maintenance. By 02:50 on June 8, it had reached 100% capacity. During the outage, the unit was loaded with a batch of innovative TVS-5 (fuel assembly of the fifth generation), containing a uranium dioxide-based fuel composition in compliance with the license issued by Rostekhnadzor and in close coordination with the nuclear regulatory authority.

The fuel assemblies were manufactured at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (PJSC NCCP), a Rosatom Fuel Division enterprise. The TVS-5 batch will undergo pilot operation over an 18-month fuel cycle across three refueling campaigns.

"Once again, the Novovoronezh NPP affirms its status as a platform for advanced technologies. The loading of fifth-generation fuel into the VVER-1200 reactor of Unit 6 marks an important milestone in the development of a closed nuclear fuel cycle. We are actively contributing to Rosatom’s key projects, which significantly shape the future of Russian nuclear energy and open new opportunities for the entire industry," said Vladimir Povarov, Director of the Novovoronezh NPP.

“One of the key objectives of closing the nuclear fuel cycle while building a dual-component nuclear power system is the introduction of fuel made from recycled nuclear materials, including for conventional thermal neutron reactors. This requires the establishment of fully automated industrial production, similar to that used for fast reactor fuel fabrication. The initiation of TVS-5 operation at Novovoronezh NPP is a necessary step toward justifying industrial-scale production of this fuel design,” stated Alexander Ugryumov, Senior Vice President for Science and Technology at JSC TVEL.

Scheduled preventive maintenance (PPM) is an annual routine procedure conducted at all Russian nuclear power plants to ensure the reliable operation of power units and improve equipment performance. Reducing the duration of maintenance allows for additional power generation of around 73 million kWh—enough to supply electricity to 290,000 apartments for a month or power 3.6 billion 20-watt energy-saving lightbulbs for an hour.

The Novovoronezh NPP, a branch of Rosenergoatom in Voronezh Region, is the first nuclear plant in Russia to use VVER-type reactors—pressurized water reactors with standard water coolant and moderator. It ensures reliable, high-quality energy supply to the Voronezh Region. Located on the Don River, 45 km south of Voronezh, the site has hosted seven VVER-type units, four of which are currently operational.

Three of its units served as prototypes for series-built VVER reactors: Unit 3 (VVER-440), Unit 5 (VVER-1000), and Unit 6 (VVER-1200). Units 1 through 5 were commissioned in 1964, 1969, 1971, 1972, and 1980, respectively. Units 1 and 2 were decommissioned in 1984 and 1990, and Unit 3 in 2016. Following modernization, Unit 4 was granted a life-extension license in December 2018.

Since 2007, the site has seen the construction of two new “Generation 3+” units—Units 6 and 7—under the “AES-2006” project. Unit 6 was commissioned in February 2017, becoming the world’s first next-generation nuclear power unit to enter commercial operation. Unit 7 followed in October 2019. These innovative units feature enhanced technical and economic performance with absolute operational safety.

The Fuel Division of Rosatom, managed by JSC TVEL, includes enterprises for nuclear fuel fabrication, uranium conversion and enrichment, gas centrifuge manufacturing, and R&D institutions. As the sole nuclear fuel supplier for Russian nuclear power plants, TVEL also supplies over 70 power reactors in 15 countries, research reactors in 9 countries, and marine propulsion reactors for the Russian nuclear fleet. One in every six power reactors worldwide operates on TVEL fuel. The division is also the world’s largest producer of enriched uranium and a global leader in stable isotope markets. It is actively developing new businesses in chemistry, metallurgy, energy storage technologies, 3D printing, digital solutions, and nuclear decommissioning. Rosatom's industry-level integrators for additive manufacturing and energy storage are also housed within this division. More at www.tvel.ru

VVER-type thermal light-water reactors form the backbone of Russia’s nuclear power sector and are widely used abroad in Russian-designed plants. The country’s long-term nuclear strategy envisions a dual-component system based on thermal and fast neutron reactors, with closed fuel cycle technologies enabling the fabrication of new uranium-plutonium fuel from spent nuclear fuel.

As fast reactor technology becomes more widespread, the aim is to achieve balanced circulation of nuclear fuel materials between thermal and fast reactors.

A balanced nuclear fuel cycle (NFC) is a closed-cycle strategy enabling the efficient reprocessing of spent fuel and rational management of its by-products—both useful (uranium and plutonium) and those destined for disposal (fission products). The core goals of the balanced NFC are to significantly reduce the volume and radioactivity of nuclear waste requiring disposal.

Such a cycle enhances the safety of nuclear waste handling, reduces environmental risks, addresses long-term waste management for future generations, promotes sustainable production and consumption, minimizes hazardous waste volumes, and recycles valuable nuclear materials.

The design of the TVS-5 assemblies supports fully automated VVER-1200 fuel cassette production—a crucial requirement for building industrial-scale uranium-plutonium fuel manufacturing capabilities for VVER reactors, aligned with the transition to a closed dual-component nuclear energy system.

Energy infrastructure remains the foundation of stable socio-economic development, industrial supply, and public utility services. Russia continues to modernize its energy sector, including nuclear capacity, with a focus on digitalization and import substitution. Today, low-carbon energy sources already account for about 40% of Russia’s electricity generation—and that share is expected to grow as nuclear generation expands.