KEPCO NF reached a total output and supply of 1 million Zirconium Alloy Tubes for Nuclear Fuel, which happened just in 4 years since its first production.

KEPCO NF (President Kim Ki-Hak) announced on Dec 26 that it produced and supplied the millionth Zirconium Alloy Tubes since 2009. The total length of million tubes is around 4,000 km which is equivalent to 5 times of roundtrip distance from Seoul to Busan.

As for Zirconium Alloy Tube, it is strictly restrained on international trade as a strategic material and besides it costs nearly 70% of total expenses in fuel parts manufacture. KEPCO NF had imported all the tubes until it localized the technology of cladding tube manufacturing and performance test. Now the company saves yearly 40 billion won by supplying the tubes itself since 2009.

The tubes are supplied to domestic nuclear power plants and globally acknowledged in quality. Starting 2011, KEPCO NF has been exporting U$2 million worth tubes to WEC, U.S.; the country pioneered nuclear energy in the first place.

Zirconium Alloy Tube is a thin and long round tube about 4M in length and 1cm in diameter. As cladding of uranium pellets, it is a key part deciding the fuel quality and safety of power plant. Hence the tube is manufactured with a special method using nuclear-grade Zirconium Alloy which has high hardness, corrosion resistance and good heat transfer as well.