Russian state corporation Rosatom has achieved a milestone in nuclear energy by advancing the manufacture of recycled fuel for Generation IV fast neutron reactors. As part of the “Proryv” (Breakthrough) project, Rosatom launched pilot operations at a state-of-the-art fuel fabrication facility for the BREST-OD-300 fast reactor, a core component of the Generation IV Pilot Demonstration Energy Complex (PDEC) in Tomsk, Russia.
This automated facility has successfully produced the first fuel bundles using depleted uranium nitride pellets, marking a significant step in sustainable nuclear technology. Rosatom’s Director General, Alexey Likhachev, hailed the achievement, noting its alignment with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) principles of fuel efficiency, enhanced safety, and waste reduction.
The BREST-OD-300 facility, the world’s first lead-cooled fast reactor, is designed with natural safety principles. It utilizes mixed dense nitride uranium-plutonium (MNUP) fuel, produced entirely from recycled materials like depleted uranium and plutonium. Unlike conventional thermal reactors that utilize just 1% of natural uranium, the BREST-OD-300’s technology enables efficient reprocessing and reuse of nuclear materials, reducing the need for fresh uranium mining and dramatically cutting waste.
The complex is set to include three integrated facilities: a fabrication unit for dense nitride fuel, the BREST-OD-300 reactor itself, and a reprocessing unit for spent fuel. Together, they create a closed fuel cycle system, where irradiated fuel is recycled into new fuel. This approach ensures practical autonomy and minimizes dependence on external energy resources.
Rosatom plans to produce over 200 MNUP fuel bundles for the initial core loading of the BREST-OD-300, leveraging experimental results from testing in other reactors like BOR-60 and BN-600. These advancements confirm the high burnup efficiency of MNUP fuel and validate the reactor’s readiness.
Generation IV nuclear systems promise to transform the energy industry by improving safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Fast reactors like the BREST-OD-300 can generate more fuel than they consume and reduce long-lived nuclear waste. Rosatom is leading this transformation, also pursuing projects like the BN-1200M reactor at Beloyarsk NPP.
With this breakthrough, Rosatom strengthens its position at the forefront of nuclear innovation, paving the way for a cleaner, more efficient energy future.
