- Kazakhstan expands nuclear capacity with advanced pellet inspection technology.
- Ulba-TVS facility achieves full capacity in fuel assembly production.
- Upgrades strengthen Kazakhstan’s role in global nuclear technology development.
Kazakhstan has significantly enhanced its nuclear fuel production capacity as the Ulba Metallurgical Plant (UMP) in Ust-Kamenogorsk, East Kazakhstan, unveils a new automated inspection line for uranium fuel pellets and increases the production of fuel assemblies for nuclear power plants (NPPs).
The enhanced system now evaluates three fuel pellets every second, utilizing micrometer-level accuracy to guarantee uniform dimensions and energy production. Each pellet, with a weight of merely 7.7 grams, produces energy equivalent to 700 kilograms of premium coal, thus serving as a vital element in contemporary low-carbon energy frameworks, according to the plant’s press office.
The facility has also raised its yearly output of fuel assemblies, the essential energy-producing parts of NPPs, to 300 tonnes annually, indicating a rising demand for nuclear fuel in global markets and Kazakhstan’s goal to establish its own nuclear power facility. The Ulba-TVS facility, which manufactures complete reactor fuel assemblies, has achieved its design capacity of 200 tonnes of uranium annually, positioning Kazakhstan within the limited number of nations capable of producing nuclear fuel.
Also Read: Southern Kazakhstan Adds New Plant to Strengthen Energy Supply
Kazatomprom, the national nuclear corporation, remarked that incorporating advanced fuel production boosts Kazakhstan’s position in the worldwide nuclear sector. Specialists at the Ulba facility claim they are prepared to provide fuel elements for Kazakhstan's inaugural nuclear power plant, anticipated to begin operations in 2035–2036, contingent on the ultimate technology selection.
The upgrade of fuel pellet manufacturing and the launch of the Ulba-TVS facility signify a crucial phase in Kazakhstan's advancement of a comprehensive nuclear fuel cycle. Ust-Kamenogorsk is quickly evolving into a national center for cutting-edge nuclear technologies, allowing the nation to not just export raw uranium but also to provide value-added, high-tech reactor fuel to international markets.