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.