Machine-Building Plant located in Electrostal, Moscow Region, produced and stored six experimental fuel assemblies for BN-600 power generating unit of Beloyarskaya nuclear power station, reports RosAtom. These assemblies include two items coated with new radiation-resistant steel known as EC164. Their testing is expected to prove that this new alloy is going to be effective for production of parts used in the reactor core (this covers both BN-800 and the BN-1800 currently at the developmental stage).

RosAtom is going to put up a new high-power reactor (BN-800) by 2015, which means it would be possible to start mass production of fast reactors in order to create a close fuel cycle. The new fuel assemblies are expected to stretch the fuel by another six months due to the experimental type of coating.