Curio, NuScale and Framatome Sign MOU to Advance Next-Generation Nuclear Fuel Cycle Solutions

Curio, NuScale Power and Framatome Inc. recently signed a strategic memorandum of understanding to jointly evaluate integrated nuclear fuel solutions aimed at strengthening the U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain and supporting the international nuclear energy market and the deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies.

Under the agreement, the three parties will conduct evaluations centered on Curio's proprietary NuCycle recycling technology, focusing on the conversion pathways of recyclable nuclear materials from "source to product" and from "source to fuel." The collaboration also encompasses future engineering coordination, fuel development, fuel qualification, manufacturing and commercialization, as well as advancing the integration of nuclear supply chain-related segments.

The three companies stated that the work will include technical assessments, feasibility studies, supply chain analyses and interface evaluations to identify potential opportunities for subsequent development agreements and commercial cooperation. The collaboration will also assess how recycled spent fuel materials can be used in future fuels and related product streams, combining the parties' capabilities in fuel recycling, fuel development, manufacturing, qualification and advanced reactor deployment.

Ed McGinnis, CEO of Curio, stated that the future development of nuclear energy requires not only building reactors but also supporting fuel cycle infrastructure. Tony Robinson, President and CEO of Framatome U.S., stated that next-generation nuclear development requires innovation and coordination across the entire fuel cycle chain. John Hopkins, President and CEO of NuScale Power, stated that the nuclear industry needs reliable and sustainable front-end and back-end fuel supplies to meet growing demand.

Curio's NuCycle technology is designed for spent nuclear fuel recycling, aiming to recover valuable materials that can be used in future nuclear energy applications. The company stated that the technology can recover strategic nuclear materials while reducing the remaining waste volume by up to 97%, providing a more sustainable and economical pathway for the nuclear fuel cycle.

NuScale Power primarily develops advanced small modular reactor technology. Its NuScale Power Module is a small pressurized water reactor module capable of generating 77 MWe or 250 MWt per module, with total installed capacity flexibly expandable up to 924 MWe. The company stated that its small modular reactor design has been certified by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and can serve power generation, data centers, district heating, seawater desalination, commercial-scale hydrogen production and other process heat applications.

Framatome is a global supplier in the nuclear energy sector, covering the design, service and installation of nuclear power plant components, fuel and instrumentation and control systems. The three parties anticipate that this collaboration may further lead to agreements on technology development, fuel qualification, supply chain construction and commercial deployment in the future.