Framatome Strengthens Partnerships to Support Nuclear Fuel Supply and SMR Deployment in Europe
Last week, Framatome (ENS Corporate Member) signed a new contract with the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN (ENS Corporate Member), to supply high‑density silicide low‑enriched uranium (HD LEU) fuel elements for the BR2 research reactor in Belgium.
The BR2 reactor is Europe’s most powerful research reactor, operating up to 100 MW. It plays a key role in material testing and in the production of medical radioisotopes essential for a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
In April 2025, Framatome successfully delivered three Lead Test Assemblies (LTAs) of HD LEU fuel (5.3 g/cm³) to qualify as an approved LEU supplier for the BR2 reactor. The three LTAs have been irradiated in the BR2 reactor, going through a representative series of operating cycles for standard driver fuel elements, without any reported defect or irregularity.
“This contract represents an important step in demonstrating Europe’s capabilities in the nuclear field and in strengthening European supply‑chain expertise for the production of medical radioisotopes”
said Ralf Gathmann, Vice President of CERCA at Framatome.
Read the full Framatome Press Release.
On 17 March 2026, Framatome (ENS Corporate Member) announced the signature of two long-term agreements with Vattenfall (also ENS Corporate Member) Nuclear Fuel (VNF) for the supply of fuel assemblies to the Forsmark and Ringhals nuclear power plants in Sweden, with first deliveries expected in 2028.
The agreements cover the fabrication and supply of both boiling water reactor (BWR) and pressurised water reactor (PWR) fuel, including Framatome’s ATRIUM 11 and GAIA fuel assembly designs, as well as shielding fuel and rod cluster control assemblies.
Operated by Vattenfall, Forsmark (3 BWR operational units) and Ringhals (2 PWRs) globally produce 42 TWh per year, playing a key role in Sweden’s electricity system. Nuclear energy represents nearly 30% of the country’s total electricity production (2024) and is expected to increase in the coming years.
Indeed, these agreements come as Sweden has been advancing a renewed nuclear policy framework to support the development of new nuclear capacity, including a roadmap unveiled in November 2023 targeting new reactors by 2035 and up to 10 units by 2045, as well as recent legislative proposals in early 2026 designed to streamline permitting and facilitate deployment.
Full version here: Framatome Press Release.
Earlier, on 11 March 2026, Framatome also announced the expansion of its longstanding partnership with NuScale Power to support the deployment of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) projects in Europe through the future fabrication of fuel assemblies for NuScale’s European SMR customers.
The NuScale Power Module (NPM) is a Generation III+ reactor and uses a fuel design that is based on existing Framatome pressurised water reactor (PWR) fuel technology.
The agreement extends a collaboration that builds on an exclusive fuel manufacturing contract signed in 2015 to include Framatome’s European fuel fabrication facilities, complementing its existing activities in the United States, where it has now been issued notice to qualify the Richland facility for manufacturing and delivery of the NuFUEL-HTP2 fuel design.
Read more on Framatome Press Release.
