PJSC Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant: history, description, products

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

PJSC Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (NCCP) is a major global manufacturer of nuclear components for nuclear power plants and research centers. In a number of areas (for example, the synthesis of lithium, the manufacture of uranium fuel), it occupies a leading position in the global market. Part of the TVEL group of companies, a structural division of Rosatom.

Prerequisites for creation

In the late 40s, humanity entered the nuclear age. After the use of atomic bombs by the Americans in Japan, the Soviet Union entered the arms race, developing its own deadly weapons. However, the atom serves not only for destruction. First of all, it is a source of relatively cheap electricity.

The Soviet government hatched plans to build a series of nuclear power plants, but for them to function, specially processed (enriched) nuclear fuel and chemical components were required. To obtain them on an industrial scale, the Council of Ministers in 1948 adoptedresolution on the construction of the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant.

First steps

It was assumed that the construction will be carried out on the site, which was originally intended for a new car factory. It was a territory in the Kalininsky district of Novosibirsk with an area of about 240 hectares with five unfinished industrial buildings.

The construction of the Novosibirsk plant of chemical concentrates began in 1949. Moreover, not only industrial buildings and engineering structures were built, but also residential buildings, social and cultural facilities.

Workdays

The main purpose of the plant was to manufacture fuel elements for the first Soviet nuclear power plants and research reactors. The technological process included all operations for the chemical, metallurgical and mechanical processing of uranium ore into finished fuel cells.

At that time, NCCP (Novosibirsk) consisted of four main uranium processing shops and one experimental production shop, which was put into operation in 1950, and the first main product was produced the following year. Initially, the level of production and profitability were quite low. This is due to the lack of special equipment, the imperfection and complexity of production schemes, the use of expensive materials and chemicals, high labor intensity and he alth hazards.

In a short time, the staff of the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant, in cooperation with industry institutes, did a great job ondevelopment and implementation of innovative technological processes and installation of new production equipment. This allowed to significantly improve the quality of products and production volumes. In the period from 1960 to 1968, the ratio of fuel element defects that appear during their operation in nuclear reactors decreased from 5.2% to 0.07%. In 1968, the volume of production increased by 7.5 times from the original, and the cost of conversion operations decreased by 13.8 times.

New Solutions

Later, a large-scale production of lithium was created at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant. This is a technological complex capable of processing raw materials to obtain high-purity lithium and lithium s alts, which are used in many industries. These products contributed to the company's entry into the world market. Extensive experience in handling fissile materials made it possible to start manufacturing fuel elements and fuel assemblies for research reactors based on the cermet composition of nuclear fuel in the form of thin-walled three-layer pipes.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the NZHK in Novosibirsk significantly expanded its activities in the production of fuel for nuclear power plants. It was a time of rapid growth of the Soviet nuclear power industry. In 1980, the plant installed equipment for the mass production of fuel elements and fuel assemblies for high-power reactors of the VVER-1000 series. In 1997, the team produced the first batch of fuel assemblies for VVER-440.

Today

NCCP's product range is constantly diversifying both in the nuclear and non-nuclear sectors. For example, in 2006 the plant put into operation the first line for the production of zeolite catalysts, which are used for the fractionation of hydrocarbons (oil and gases). In 2011, the enterprise started production of uranium-aluminum rods, which are used to produce medical isotopes.

At the moment, the factory is engaged in production:

• Uranium compounds.
• Lithium (including lithium-7), its compounds.
• Zeolite catalysts.
• Nuclear fuel.
• Process gases (oxygen, hydrogen).

The company continues to develop dynamically. Investors are actively interested in the shares of the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant. Currently, PJSC NCCP is an affiliate of TVEL Fuel Company, which specializes in natural uranium mining, production and supply of nuclear fuel for various power reactors.