Framatome of France Secures First U.S. High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium Nuclear Fuel Contract

French nuclear company Framatome announced that it has signed a commercial contract to supply one operating nuclear reactor in the United States with the world's first nuclear fuel with uranium-235 concentration higher than the industry standard of 5%, for use in replacing reactor fuel.

Under the agreement, as part of the “Advanced Fuel Management” (AFM) program, Framatome will use AFM technology to supply higher-concentration fuel in batches starting in early 2028. The agreement includes the supply of a range of fuels to support long-term use of AFM fuel in the reactor, and includes additional fuel supply options for the future. The company did not disclose the name of the reactor that will use the fuel.

Uranium-235 is the main fissile isotope of uranium, with a concentration of about 0.7% in natural uranium. Light water reactors currently in operation use low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel, with uranium-235 enrichment of up to 4.8%. However, high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel (also known as LEU+) containing up to 10% uranium-235 has the potential to provide better nuclear fuel cycle economics for currently operating reactors.

“Advanced Fuel Management” (AFM) is a comprehensive global program implemented by Framatome aimed at providing fuel with higher enrichment and longer life. The company says that enriching uranium oxide to more than the traditional 5% and combining it with its latest technology can enable reactor operators to maximize energy output. The increased enrichment and longer life improve economics by extracting more cycle energy from the reactor core and reducing operating and maintenance costs. The “Advanced Fuel Management” (AFM) program covers all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, including enrichment services, regulatory licensing, and fuel manufacturing infrastructure.

This advanced fuel solution was developed by Framatome and will be manufactured at its Richland, Washington facility. The facility has been upgraded and modified over the past four years to support the implementation of this innovative technology, and has received approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to manufacture fuel with higher enriched uranium content and to produce longer-life fuel.

Framatome said the fuel supply agreement “represents a major advancement for the global nuclear industry, enabling the first operating reactor to extend its fuel cycle length and life through this advanced technology. The agreement sets a new benchmark for innovation, performance, and industry collaboration.”