Framatome makes first nuclear fuel assemblies for Barakah

The fuel assemblies were manufactured in the USA at Framatome's facility in Richland, Washington, and will now be delivered for testing at the Barakah Plant, the companies said.

The companies agreed in July that Framatome would supply complete nuclear fuel assemblies for use at Barakah, where four Korean-designed APR1400 reactors are in operation, as well providing engineering support services from its US headquarters in Lynchburg, Virginia. The agreement between the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and Framatome is part of ENEC's long-term strategy to diversify its fuel supply chain, enhancing energy security by ensuring an uninterrupted source of carbon-free power from the Barakah plant to businesses, industries and homes across the UAE.

Framatome CEO Grégoire Ponchon said the milestone demonstrates the strength of the companies' partnership and their commitment to supporting the UAE's clean energy ambitions. "The successful fabrication of the first lead fuel assemblies is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our teams, and it underscores Framatome's role as a trusted partner in the global nuclear industry. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with ENEC to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the Barakah Plant," he said.

"Our partnership with Framatome is an important component of our wider strategy to ensure a resilient fuel supply for Barakah," ENEC Managing Director and Group CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi said. "Framatome's expertise and manufacturing capabilities align perfectly with ENEC's commitment to the highest safety and performance standards - by strengthening Barakah's fuel supply chain, we are supporting continued operational excellence and always-on power generation at Barakah to power the nation's leading industries, businesses and of course our communities.''

A comprehensive testing programme will evaluate and verify the safety, compatibility, and performance of the new fuel design under actual operating conditions at the Barakah plant before the fuel is used commercially, as part of ENEC's fuel qualification programme. "ENEC will then move forward with the integration of these assemblies, supporting both operational reliability and regulatory compliance," the companies said.