Framatome Signs Historic Contract for Higher-Enriched Nuclear Fuel
On September 21, 2026, Framatome signed the world's first commercial contract to supply a U.S. operating reactor with nuclear fuel enriched above the historical 5% U-235 industry standard. This milestone marks a major leap forward in advanced fuel management and extends into the LEU+ category, reaching up to 10% enrichment.
NRC Approval and Richland Facility Modernization
The higher-enriched fuel will be manufactured at Framatome's Richland, Washington plant. The facility underwent a comprehensive four-year modernization and received crucial US regulatory approval in July 2026 to handle uranium enriched up to nearly 10%. This NRC authorization, following a process initiated in September 2024, significantly expands domestic manufacturing capacity for advanced reactor fuels.
Framatome is the first to sign a full commercial core reload contract for an operating reactor, moving beyond technical tests to actual commercial deployment of LEU+ fuel.
Extending Fuel Cycles and Industry Competition
Deliveries under the Advanced Fuel Management (AFM) programme are expected to begin in spring 2028. The new fuel aims to extend the fuel cycle length from 18 to 24 months, offering substantial economic benefits. This development was supported by the US public program on accident-tolerant fuels (ATF), with Framatome testing its advanced GAIA fuel at the Calvert Cliffs plant since 2021.
Global competitors are also advancing in this space. Westinghouse previously tested 6% enriched fuel assemblies in Vogtle 2 in April 2025, while GE-Hitachi is authorized to produce 8% fuel in North Carolina. Urenco was the first to obtain approval to produce LEU+ up to nearly 10%. However, Framatome's achievement in securing a full commercial contract sets a new benchmark for the industry.
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