Columbia Generating Plant extends contract with GE-led Global Nuclear Fuel

The General Electric-led venture Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF) has been awarded an extended contract by Energy Northwest to continue supplying the Columbia Generating Station near Richland, Washington, with fuel reloads, GE said this week.

“GNF has fueled Columbia since 2009, and this contract means that we’ll continue to help Energy Northwest meet its performance goals with our industry-leading fuel products,” Lance Hall, executive vice president of  GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's Nuclear Fuels and Services unit, said.

Through this extended contract, GNF will provide refueling services five times between 2019 and 2027. The value of the contract is reported to be approximately $90 million.

GNF specializes in the supply of boiling-water nuclear-reactor fuel and associated engineering services. This entity is a joint venture between Hitatchi Ltd. and Toshiba, and is led by GE.

The Columbia Generating Station consists of one nuclear reactor with a capacity of approximately 1,190 megawatts of electrical generation. The facility currently uses GNF2 nuclear fuel. GNF said this fuel assembly allows reactors to increase power generation and to be more efficient in terms of enriched uranium necessary to meet reactor demands relating to refueling operations.

GE and Hitatchi formed a global alliance in 2007 called GEH, which serves as a provider of nuclear services and reactor technology.