Framatome

Framatome has inaugurated a EUR 30 million pilot facility in Paimboeuf, France, to apply chromium coatings to zirconium alloy cladding tubes for nuclear fuel assemblies, with industrial qualification targeted by end-2026 and series production planned for early 2027.

Framatome and Ion Beam Applications (IBA) have formed a new joint company, Ekalia, to advance the industrial-scale production of astatine-211 in Europe and the United States. The first production site is planned for Nantes, France, with an anticipated investment of €30 million.

Framatome has renewed its long-term service agreement with EDF for the Sizewell B nuclear power plant, extending maintenance and outage activities through 2040. The agreement supports the plant's operational challenges and its 20-year lifetime extension.

Framatome has secured its first contract to supply higher enriched fuel reloads using its Advanced Fuel Management (AFM) technology, with deliveries scheduled to begin in early 2028. This agreement marks a significant step in nuclear fuel technology, enabling extended cycle lengths and improved burnup rates for an operational reactor. The AFM program integrates enrichment services, regulatory licensing, and fuel fabrication, with manufacturing taking place at Framatome's facility in Richland, Washington.

Framatome recently presented on strategies for modernizing safety instrumentation and control (I&C) systems, covering both analog and digital technologies, during an American Nuclear Society Supplier Showcase webinar.

Framatome has received Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval to raise the enrichment limit at its Richland site and to authorise TRISO fuel fabrication, while a separate memorandum of understanding outlines long-term HALEU supply planning between Lightbridge and QNI.