The Pre-licensing Stage for the Newcleo Advanced Nuclear Reactor Completed

UK-based nuclear start-up Newcleo said it has completed the preparatory stage set up by the French authorities for developers of small modular reactor (SMR) designs to facilitate, secure and accelerate the review of license applications.

During the preparatory stage, French nuclear regulator Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire (ASN) and the Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN – Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire) assessed the maturity of Newcleo’s design and discussed all safety options for its Lead cooled Fast Reactor (LFR) and the associated nuclear fuel manufacturing plant.

Newcleo reports that the completion of this stage with the French regulatory authorities took place after numerous technical meetings involving about twenty specialized experts from the authorities, as well as the development of a number of preparatory documents covering various technical topics.

Upon completion of this stage, the start-up will present official technical options for both lead-cooled reactors and a mixed oxide fuel fabrication plant.

For information: in December 2023, the British start-up became the winner of the Innovative Nuclear Reactors project under the French investment plan. The start-up signed three strategic partnerships with Assystem, Ingérop and Onet Technologies to develop technologies in France. France plans to build and commission the Newcleo start-up’s 30 MWe lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR 30), as well as a pilot plant for the fabrication and multiple reprocessing of mixed oxide fuel (MOX). LFR 30 will operate on MOX fuel.