THE company due to supply reactors to Cumbria's proposed nuclear new build has launched a new "accident tolerant" fuel.

Westinghouse Electric has announced this product - EnCore Fuel - has been designed to cope with severe conditions tand features an extremely high melting point (2800°C or higher) and minimal reaction with water. This will mean in any severe accident it should be unlikely to produce extra heat or hydrogen.

The American firm is due to supply three AP1000 reactors to the proposed power station at Moorside, near Sellafield. Earlier this year this product was approved for use in the UK.

Westinghouse though is in a difficult situation financially and has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the USA. Before this it was part of Toshiba and its situation have affected the Japanese giant's financial situation dramatically, with it due to report a £6.5bn loss.

This arose because Westinghouse may have overpaid for another nuclear business.

“Westinghouse is aggressively pursuing the benefits of accident tolerant fuel for our customers,” said Michele DeWitt, senior vice president, Nuclear Fuel.

"We are on track to manufacture EnCore Fuel lead test rods as early as 2018, with lead test assembly insertion planned starting in 2022.”