Rosatom, Russia's state-owned nuclear technology company, is expected to apply for design certification in the U.S. and the U.K. for its VVER pressurized water reactor design.
Russian state media reported that an executive of Rosatom subsidiary ZAO Rusatom Overseas announced the company would pursue the certifications at Atomexpo-2012. An application with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission would follow a similar process with British regulators, which the company hoped to complete in five years.
In addition to the company's interest in reactor technology exports to Western countries, Rosatom also expressed interest in building reactors in the U.K. and providing fuel for pressurized water reactors in Western countries. The company is reported to be planning to make a pilot delivery of fuel to Sweden's Ringhals 3 plant as early as next year.
State-run publication “Russia Beyond the Headlines” also quoted Rosatom head Sergei Kiriyenko as saying the country is interested in Horizon Nuclear Power. The joint venture owned by RWE and E.ON was formed to build new nuclear plants in the U.K., but in March the German companies announced they would abandon that effort.