First fuel for new Kursk nuclear power plant launched

The first delivery of nuclear fuel for the Kursk II power plant marks a key milestone in Russia's energy development.

Share:

Combustible nucléaire Koursk II

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

The Kursk II nuclear power plant, located 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, is preparing to load its first fuel assemblies into unit 1. Equipped with two VVER-TOI reactors, this plant represents the latest innovation in light water reactor design in Russia.

Project background and progress

Since the start of construction in 2018, the Kursk II power plant has achieved several important milestones, including the installation of the polar crane in October 2021 and the reactor in June 2022. The completion of the outer dome in August 2023 also marked a significant step forward. The VVER-TOI reactors, each with a capacity of 3,300 MWt, are designed to generate 1,300 MWe gross. This advanced technology incorporates improved pressure vessels and enhanced thermal reliability, aimed at improving the plant’s technical and economic performance.

Executive comments and next steps

Alexander Uvakin, Director of the Kursk power plant, declared that the delivery of nuclear fuel proves the advanced state of construction of the first reactor. The next cold and hot tests should precede the reactor’s physical start-up phase. TVS VVER-TOI nuclear fuel is based on the VVER-1000 and VVER-1200 reactors. The new fuel enables increased fuel loading, higher thermal reliability and more effective core control.

Energy Transition and Future Prospects

The gradual closure of all four units of the existing Kursk nuclear power plant by 2031 is part of Russia’s energy modernization plan. The first unit was shut down in December 2021 after 45 years of operation. The remaining units will follow, marking the transition to more modern, efficient facilities. The Kursk II plant is part of this dynamic, replacing the old RBMK-1000 reactors with VVER-TOI units. This evolution is essential to meet growing safety andenergy efficiency requirements. The integration of new technologies and the efficient management of the 18-month fuel cycle position Kursk II as a model of performance in the nuclear sector.
The delivery of the first nuclear fuel to the Kursk II power plant represents a crucial milestone in the completion of this ambitious project. With significant improvements in technology and energy management, this plant promises to play a central role in Russia’s energy future.

The Tennessee Valley Authority partners with ENTRA1 Energy to develop up to 6 gigawatts of modular nuclear capacity, in an unprecedented project supporting energy growth across seven U.S. states.
A report by the International Atomic Energy Agency puts Iran’s 60% enriched uranium at 440.9 kg before Israeli and U.S. strikes, while the agency’s access to enrichment sites has remained suspended since the operations.
US-based Westinghouse has signed six industrial agreements in the UK to supply critical components for its AP1000 and AP300 nuclear projects in Britain and abroad.
NANO Nuclear Energy receives direct funding from the US Air Force innovation branch to assess the integration of its KRONOS MMRâ„¢ microreactor at the Washington D.C. military base.
EDF extends the operation of Heysham 1 and Hartlepool by one year after favourable safety inspections, ensuring continuity of nuclear production and safeguarding more than 1,000 jobs.
Russian nuclear group Rosatom has confirmed advanced discussions with India and Turkey to launch new power plants, including advanced and floating reactor technologies.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has identified uranium particles of industrial origin in samples taken from a Syrian site suspected of hosting an undeclared nuclear reactor.
Norwegian authorities begin the first regulatory phase for two modular nuclear reactor projects, marking a strategic step in the national review of the potential role of nuclear energy in the country’s power mix.
With eleven reactors under construction and major projects such as Jaitapur, India is preparing a nuclear build-up that could place it among the world’s five leading nations in the sector.
France and Germany have validated a joint energy roadmap, including a commitment to the non-discrimination of nuclear energy in European financing.
Russia and Iran seek to strengthen their nuclear cooperation as the E3 activates the sanctions mechanism against Tehran, reigniting tensions over compliance with the 2015 Vienna agreement.
US-based Natura Resources has secured strategic funding and key permits for its MSR-1 nuclear reactor, backed by public funds and enriched fuel allocation from the Department of Energy.
The United States and South Korea have agreed to initiate discussions on reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, marking a potential strategic shift in the long-standing bilateral agreement.
The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted a 40-year extension for the AP1000 reactor design certification, supporting its long-term construction domestically and deployment abroad.
Nano Nuclear Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dioxitek, Argentina’s only uranium supplier for nuclear fuel, to assess the development of local conversion and enrichment capacities.
Stockholm plans to restart uranium extraction by lifting the 2018 ban, aiming to secure strategic supply chains and support domestic nuclear electricity production.
The French Atomic Energy Commission has signed a letter of intent with start-up Calogena to study the installation of a 30 MW thermal small nuclear reactor at its Cadarache site.
A Guidehouse Research report anticipates strong growth in the global nuclear modular reactor market, with revenues rising from $375.8 million in 2025 to $8.1 billion in 2034.
KHNP, Doosan, POSCO and Samsung C&T join US partners to develop 5 GW of modular reactors, expand uranium enrichment and build an 11 GW energy complex in Texas.
The US Department of Energy is creating an industrial consortium to accelerate domestic enriched uranium production and reduce reliance on foreign imports ahead of the Russian supply ban in 2027.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.