Thorizon and Urenco Sign Cooperation Agreement for Molten Salt Reactor Fuel Cycle
Molten salt reactor developer Thorizon and nuclear enrichment company Urenco have signed a memorandum of understanding for a partnership in advanced nuclear technologies and the fuel supply chain.
Netherlands-based molten salt reactor developer Thorizon and international enrichment company Urenco have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the fuel supply chain for advanced nuclear reactors.
Scope and Objectives of the Cooperation
The memorandum of understanding signed between Thorizon and Urenco aims to examine Urenco's potential role in the fuel supply chain for molten salt reactors. The collaboration brings together two complementary key components of the advanced nuclear ecosystem.
Thorizon One Reactor Project
Originating from the nuclear research institute NRG, Thorizon develops small modular molten salt reactors based on decades of research. The company plans to commission its first Thorizon One reactor in the Borssele region of the Netherlands.
For this reactor to operate, high-assay low-enriched uranium in the form of molten salt is required.
Urenco's Advanced Fuel Investments
Urenco, a joint venture involving the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany, is expanding its enrichment capacity across its international facilities. The company continues to invest in advanced fuel production for next-generation reactors.
High-assay low-enriched uranium production is projected to take place at Urenco's Capenhurst facility in the UK.
Utilization of Depleted Uranium Resources
Through the cooperation, the optimization of enrichment services and uranium utilization will be explored. Thorizon's technology has the potential to use depleted uranium, a byproduct of enrichment, as fuel in the future.
This approach could contribute to extracting more value from existing uranium resources and enhancing the efficiency of the nuclear fuel cycle.
Assessments by Executives
Urenco Chief Commercial Officer Laurent Odeh stated that the combination of fuel innovation and reactor technology will support commercial deployment.
Thorizon CEO Kiki Lauwers drew attention to the importance of combining enrichment expertise with molten salt innovation to build a strong European nuclear fuel cycle.