The international nuclear fuel manufacturer with a plant in Richland has inked yet another deal that could further solidify its importance in a nascent nuclear power industry. 

Framatome, along with small modular reactor (SMR) developer NuScale Power Corporation and Curio, a company focused on nuclear recycling technologies, have signed a memorandum of understanding to identify pathways to further strengthen the supply of domestic nuclear fuel, according to a release. 

“Advancing the next generation of nuclear energy demands bold innovation and strong alignment across the entire fuel cycle,” said Tony Robinson, Framatome Inc. president and CEO, in a statement. “At Framatome, we are committed to working with partners who share that vision and support efforts to strengthen America’s nuclear infrastructure. This collaboration represents the kind of forward-looking, integrated approach needed to unlock new fuel technologies, and ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of safe, reliable, carbon-free nuclear power.” 

The Richland plant employs about 580 people and produces uranium dioxide powder, pellets, fuel rods and fuel assemblies for commercial nuclear power plants worldwide.   

France-based Framatome already has a partnership with NuScale, which is based in Corvallis, Oregon, and currently has the only SMR design approved by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In March, the two companies announced they had expanded their partnership to include Framatome’s European facilities for fuel fabrication in Europe and notified the Richland facility to fabricate fuel for NuScale’s SMR fuel technology in the next five years. 

The supply chain for nuclear fuel and related components has received increasing attention in recent months as the Trump administration pushes to bring more shuttered and new nuclear power plants online. Framatome’s Richland facility is expected to play a big part in widening that supply chain due to federal contracts and partnerships with other SMR and advanced fuel developers.