Recent international developments in the nuclear sector include the Philippines resuming discussions about introducing nuclear power to the island nation. Concurrently, the International Atomic Energy Agency General Conference featured notable remarks concerning the global nuclear landscape. Électricité de France (EDF) has also provided updates regarding its timeline for small modular reactors (SMRs).
Framatome has announced its first contract to supply higher enriched fuel reloads, utilizing its Advanced Fuel Management (AFM) technology. Deliveries are set to commence in early 2028, with options for additional future reloads included in the agreement. The specific reactor where this fuel will be deployed was not disclosed.
The AFM program is a globally integrated initiative by Framatome, designed to provide fuel with increased enrichment and burnup limits. This advanced fuel solution, developed by Framatome, will be manufactured at its facility in Richland, Washington. This facility has undergone upgrades over the past four years and has received approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for fabricating fuel with higher uranium enrichments and burnup limits.
Higher enriched fuel, also known as LEU+, contains up to 10% uranium-235, compared to the approximately 4.8% uranium-235 in standard low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel used in light water reactors. This higher enrichment, combined with Framatome's technology, allows reactor operators to maximize energy production. The increases in enrichment and burnup are expected to enhance economic performance by extracting more cycle energy from the reactor core and reducing operations and maintenance costs.
Framatome stated that this fuel supply agreement represents a major advancement for the global nuclear industry. It will enable the first operational reactor to extend its cycle lengths from 18 to 24 months, thereby reducing outage frequency and improving operational efficiency and power generation. The contract builds upon ongoing deliveries of Framatome's GAIA fuel, a pressurized water reactor fuel design that forms the basis for these AFM-enabled reloads.
In July of this year, the NRC approved Framatome's request for a license amendment, allowing a plant to handle uranium enriched up to 10%, an increase from the previous 6.5%. This approval aims to expand domestic capacity for advanced reactor fuels and support the deployment of next-generation reactors. In October 2023, Southern Nuclear received NRC authorization to use Westinghouse advanced nuclear fuel enriched up to 6% uranium-235 at Vogtle unit 2, marking the first time a US commercial reactor was authorized to use fuel with over 5% enrichment.
Samsung C&T has agreed to provide up to USD100 million in direct investment and in-kind engineering services for the Hermes 2 demonstration plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This commitment, subject to regulatory approvals, aims to support Kairos Power's financial readiness for the Hermes 2 project and the commercial deployment of its fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) technology.
As part of the agreement, Samsung C&T will join Kairos Power's integrated engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) team. This partnership will leverage expertise to support the delivery of Hermes 2 and future KP-FHR plants. The collaboration will initially focus on selected engineering and construction activities, specifically for power-generation systems and the balance of plant. Kairos Power will lead the nuclear island's reactor technology, engineering, manufacturing, procurement, and construction.
This agreement follows a trilateral memorandum of understanding signed on August 18 by Samsung C&T, Kairos Power, and Barnard Construction, which established an early framework for project execution. Samsung C&T will participate in tasks such as the design and constructability review of the Hermes demonstration reactor and has secured priority rights for EPC services for Kairos Power's planned commercial reactor in the USA. The companies also plan to identify global business opportunities in nuclear power markets, including South Korea, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
Kairos Power received construction permits for the Hermes 2 plant in December 2024 and began construction in Oak Ridge in April 2026. The 50 MWe grid-connected reactor is designed to demonstrate KP-FHR technology at a relevant scale, aiming to mitigate technical, licensing, manufacturing, and construction uncertainties for subsequent full-size commercial plants.
Samsung C&T has a history in nuclear power, having delivered 12 GW of generating capacity across 10 reactors, including the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE and units 5 and 6 at the Shin Hanul plant in South Korea. The company has also engaged in nuclear power plant refurbishment and front-end engineering and design for small modular reactors (SMRs), with partnerships supporting SMR development projects in Romania, Estonia, Sweden, and Poland.