The Zheleznogorsk plant will probably use a new technology in which fuel elements contain vibrocompacted MOX granules. Earlier plans suggested that the role of Zheleznogorsk would be limited to producing the granules, which manufacturing of the fuel elements will be done by the NIIAR institute at Dimitrovgrad. It is not clear if the current decision changed this arrangement.
Although according to Rosatom plans the new plant will produce its first fuel in 2012, it is possible that BN-800, which is expected to begin operations in 2014, will not use Zheleznogorsk fuel in its first zone. Rosatom considers a possibility of the first zone using assemblies of three different types - uranium-based, tablet MOX, and about 100 assemblies that will contain vibrocompacted MOX granules. It is possible that all 100 new-type assemblies will be produced at NIIAR. The tablet MOX fuel will be produced at Mayak. Apparently, at this point Rosatom is not certain if BN-800 would be able to use vibrocompacted fuel in the entire core.