Newcleo advances MOX fuel licensing in France

Prior to applying for authorisation to construct a nuclear facility in France, a project developer may submit all or part of the design of its nuclear installation to the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire et de Radioprotection (ASNR), together with the safety approach, safety functions, structures, systems, components, or any other elements relevant to the proposed facility's nuclear safety programme.

In December 2024, Newcleo submitted its Safety Options File to the ASNR for its planned mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel assembly testing facility. The ASNR's official opinion on the submitted safety options will contribute to securing the application for authorisation to construct such a facility.

Following its review, the ASNR said: "The ASNR considers that the safety demonstration provisions adopted by Newcleo at the safety options stage are satisfactory and generally meet the objectives set by the decree of 7 February 2012, particularly regarding the application of the defence-in-depth principle, the application of a prudent deterministic approach, the setting of sufficiently ambitious general safety objectives, and the consideration of lessons learned from similar facilities. In the context of a potential application for authorisation to create the basic nuclear installation, the ASNR requests that Newcleo provide further justification, notably to assess the consequences of an aircraft crash, analyse the development of a fire, and guarantee compliance with containment principles."

Newcleo said it intends to incorporate the ASNR's recommendations into the facility design in support of a future construction licence application. It said ASNR's review gives it "practical experience in developing the safety case for a first-of-a-kind MOX fuel manufacturing facility".

Newcleo's delivery roadmap sees the first non-nuclear precursor prototype of its lead-cooled fast neutron reactor being ready this year in Italy and the first reactor operational in France as early as 2032, while the final investment decision for the first commercial power plant is expected around 2029. At the same time, Newcleo will directly invest in a mixed uranium/plutonium oxide (MOX) plant to fuel its reactors. It has initiated site acquisition and public consultation processes in France for the MOX fuel pilot assembly line in Nogent-sure-Seine.

Newcleo submitted the Safety Options File for its lead-cooled fast neutron reactor to the ASNR in January this year and is currently awaiting the opinion of the regulator on its proposed safety features.

In parallel, Newcleo is carrying out a three-month public debate on its proposed French lead-cooled fast neutron reactor and MOX fuel facility projects, becoming the first private developer of an innovative reactor technology to complete this key stage of stakeholder engagement in France. The company said it will "carefully assess the conclusions of the National Commission for the Public Debate, incorporating the insights gained into the ongoing development and planning of its projects".

New collaboration phase with French state

Newcleo also announced it is entering a new phase of collaboration with French authorities following the evaluation of its application for Phase 2 of the France 2030 innovative nuclear reactor programme.

The company was a winner of the 'Innovative nuclear reactors' call for projects under the France 2030 investment plan implemented by Bpifrance and financed by the European Union - Next Generation EU as part of France's economic recovery plan (Plan France Relance).

Following the detailed evaluation of Newcleo's application for Phase 2 of the France 2030 programme, the General Secretariat for Investments concluded that the company has reached a stage of development that exceeds the scope of the programme. Since participating in the programme, Newcleo has raised a significant amount of capital. It has also achieved a significant international presence, and, in May announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement for a business combination with NewHold Investment Corp III in a transaction that, upon closing, would result in Newcleo becoming a US-listed public company.

"As a result, considering these developments, which were obtained thanks also to the France 2030's initial support to the company in 2023, a limited additional contribution of public funding to the project would be marginal and ineffective," Newcleo said. "In this context, the French state will continue working with Newcleo to identify other forms of cooperation in the next stage of the company's development, including through licensing support with the ASNR, state services in connection with the company's proposed projects in the French territory and through export-facing initiatives."

Stefano Buono, CEO and founder of Newcleo said: "We welcome the ASNR's positive opinion, which reflects years of work by the teams developing our MOX fuel facilities. We are proud to contribute to France's nuclear industry, and we thank France 2030 for its support, which has accelerated our technology development, strengthened our presence in France, fostered strategic partnerships, and attracted private investment."