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Korean Republic Enrichment restrictions eased South Korea saw progress in its long-running quest to secure rights to enrich uranium and reprocess used nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes, after the US affirmed its support. The agreement was reached during the meeting between US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the recent APEC summit in Gyeongju. It approved South Korea’s quest to build nuclear submarines and opened the door for Korea to develop enrichment and reprocessing capabilities. A joint fact sheet that outlined the
agreements reached on a range of key trade and security issues, included a clause on enrichment and reprocessing. It confirmed a $350m strategic trade and investment deal announced in July and outlined commitments on a range of trade and security issues, with South Korea saying it welcomed US support for its civil and naval nuclear power programmes. “Consistent with the bilateral 123 agreement and subject to US legal requirements, the United States supports the process that will lead to the ROK’s [South Korea’s] civil uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing for peaceful uses,” the document noted. Under the 1974 123 agreement on peaceful
nuclear energy cooperation, South Korea had very limited authority to reprocess used fuel or enrich uranium, with such activities requiring US consent through bilateral consultations under the relevant treaties, laws and regulations governing both countries. The agreement only allowed South Korea
to enrich uranium up to less than 20% with US consent, with concerns over nuclear proliferation cited as the primary reason. Despite a revision in 2015, it effectively barred Korea from producing its own civilian nuclear fuel. The procedure was so complex that South Korea has never been able to conduct enrichment, while reprocessing was prohibited. However, both capabilities are considered
vital by South Korea, which relies heavily on nuclear power and seeks to strengthen its position as a global nuclear reactor exporter. Uranium enrichment rights would bolster
energy security. South Korea currently depends entirely on imports for the low-enriched uranium used in its 26 reactors. Reprocessing would help manage Korea’s growing stockpile of used fuel and would enable the recycling of uranium. The used-fuel storage pools at its NPPs are expected to be full in 2030. Announcing the result of the summit, Lee
said US support for Korean uranium enrichment and used fuel reprocessing was a “significant advancement”. He added: “The door is now wide open for a South Korea-US alliance renaissance, in which both nations can achieve a true win- win outcome.” Korea’s foreign ministry described the
agreement on enrichment and reprocessing as “a strategic upgrade” of bilateral nuclear energy cooperation.
France Framatome completes ATF cycle Framatome’s accident tolerant fuel (ATF) assembly has completed four years of operation at Constellation Energy’s Calvert Cliffs NPP in Maryland. The lead fuel assembly, the first of its kind to operate in a commercial reactor, was developed through the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Accident Tolerant Fuel programme. The fuel assembly will complete its third cycle of operation in 2027. The lead fuel assembly was first loaded into
the Calvert Cliffs unit 2 reactor in 2021 after which it was examined and reinserted for an additional two years of operation in 2023. Framatome and Constellation will reinsert the fuel during the spring 2025 refuelling outage and will monitor its performance over the next two years. The assembly will then be shipped to a DOE national laboratory for post-irradiation examination to help inform licensing activities. The assembly contains 176 chromium-
coated fuel rods and chromia-enhanced fuel pellets that can better respond to changes in the reactor core and are expected to reduce corrosion and hydrogen production under high-temperature conditions. The fuel prototype builds on previous testing in the US and Switzerland through Framatome’s PROtect programme and could deliver the industry’s first major upgrade to nuclear fuel and cladding technologies since the 1970s. Frank Goldner, Federal Program Manager for
DOE’s Accident Tolerant Fuel Program, said: This public-private partnership is helping to drive the fulfilment of national power demands and executive orders issued by President Trump. This fuel assembly will continue operating under commercial conditions, providing crucial data to support the nation’s energy objectives.” Framatome, GE Vernova, and Westinghouse
are all testing ATF concepts in commercial reactors across the US with the goal of widespread adoption by 2030.
Hungary US nuclear deal inked During Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent summit meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington, wide ranging nuclear co-operation was among the many agreements concluded. Orbán announced at a joint press conference
with Foreign Affairs & Trade Péter Szijjártó that Hungary had secured an indefinite and comprehensive exemption from US sanctions targeting Russian energy sources. “We have managed to protect the utility price cuts, which means Hungary will continue to have the lowest energy prices in Europe,” he noted. He also confirmed that the US will lift
the remaining restrictions related to the Paks II nuclear project introduced under the previous Biden administration. He stressed that the exemption from sanctions was not just extended, but completely abolished. The US and Hungary also signed a memorandum
round up
REGULATION A EUROPEAN UNION (EU) initiative to strengthen Ghana’s nuclear regulatory framework and safety systems has concluded after six years. The project, Support to the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) of Ghana, was launched in September 2019 with a total funding of €1.75m ($1.7m under the European Instrument for International Nuclear Safety Cooperation.
COMPANIES CALIFORNIA-BASED NUCLEAR start-up Valar Atomics has raised $130m in its latest funding round bringing its total fundraising to $150m. The funding round was backed by Anduril Industries founder Palmer Luckey and Palantir Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar, the company said. Valar Atomics, founded in 2023, raised $19m in a seed funding round to develop its first test reactor when it emerged from stealth in February.
NUCLEAR FUEL A DELIVERY OF 32 plutonium-uranium mixed oxide (mox) fuel assemblies fabricated by France’s Orano at its Melox plant has arrived at Kansai Electric Power’s Takahama NPP in Japan’s Fukui Prefecture. This was the seventh shipment of mox to the plant from overseas and the first in about three years.
US INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS company Enveniam has signed an agreement with LIS Technologies (LIST), the only US-origin and patented laser uranium enrichment company. Enveniam will serve as the Lead Project Integrator for the design, development, and construction of LIST’s laser-based uranium enrichment facility.
ROSATOM’S FUEL COMPANY TVEL has fulfilled a contract for the supply of nuclear fuel to Vietnam for the Dalat Research Reactor. The fuel was manufactured by the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant. The fuel will ensure reliable operation of the reactor until the 2030s. The previous supply of Russian fuel for the Dalat research reactor was completed in December 2010.
FRANCE-BASED NUCLEAR start-up Naarea (Nuclear Abundant Affordable Resourceful Energy for All) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Italian startup Fluid Wire Robotics (FWR). The aim is to provide Naarea with safe and reliable robotic handling capabilities for its fuel production facility, as well as for its XAMR microreactors.
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