Areva NC supplies uranium ore concentrate to NFC

Hyderabad: The Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) has received 60 tonnes of uranium ore concentrate from the French Nuclear supplier, Areva NC. Areva will also supply another 240 tonnes of uranium ore by end of April 2009 to NFC as part of the contract entered into by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) with Areva earlier.

This was the first shipment of nuclear fuel to NFC from outside after the ratification of the Indo-US nuclear deal and waivers by the Nuclear Supply Group (NSG).

The material received from Areva will be processed in the designated fuel plants of NFC. NFC is also expecting supply of 120 tonnes of uranium ore from Russia by end of April.

Currently, NFC is supplying nuclear fuel to all the 15 PHWRs and two boiling water reactors (BWRs).

NFC has also bagged an order from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for supply of end-closure welding machine which is used in the manufacturing of nuclear fuel bundles.