French-Dutch start-up Thorizon and South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C) have signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) to accelerate the development and global deployment of the Thorizon One molten salt reactor (MSR).
The agreement was signed at Thorizon’s headquarters in Amsterdam by Kiki Lauwers, CEO of Thorizon and Sander de Groot, Founder of Thorizon, alongside Young Choi, Chief Operating Officer of Hyundai E&C, in the presence of senior representatives from both organisations.
The partnership combines Thorizon’s advanced nuclear technology with Hyundai E&C’s extensive EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) experience to transition the design into a commercially viable product. This will include:
- Jointly advancing technical data exchange and design activities for the Thorizon One reactor.
- Preparing for future reactor projects and engaging directly with heavy industrial energy users seeking low-carbon heat and power.
- Focusing on Northern European markets, such as Finland and Sweden, where there is a resurgent interest in nuclear energy to meet “100% fossil fuel-free” mandates.
“We see strong international interest in Thorizon’s molten salt reactor development, and this collaboration with Hyundai Engineering & Construction reflects that momentum,” said Kiki Lauwers. “Hyundai E&C brings an impressive track record in delivering large-scale nuclear projects, and we look forward to defining how their expertise can complement the future deployment of our reactor systems.”
This deal is a central pillar of Hyundai E&C’s “Triangular Alliance” for the nuclear market, allowing them to compete across three distinct sectors: large reactors (a partnership with Westinghouse for the AP10000, SMRs (cooperation with Holtec International for the SMR-300) and MSRs (strategic collaboration with Thorizon).
The Thorizon One technology is a 100 MWe (250 MWt) reactor system designed for industrial decarbonisation. It features a unique replaceable core cartridge (swapped every 5–10 years) to solve common MSR issues like material corrosion and spent fuel handling. It is designed to run on a mixture of thorium and long-lived radioactive waste from existing nuclear plants, converting it into shorter-lived waste. The reactor design is for operation at roughly 550°C–600°C, making it ideal for providing process heat to chemical plants and steel manufacturing.
The company aims to begin construction of the first commercial-scale “Thorizon One” by 2030, with operational status envisioned for 2032. Before the full reactor, a smaller non-commercial version called Thorizon Pioneer will be built to validate the reactor core without electricity production.
Thorizon is currently conducting pre-feasibility studies at three nuclear-designated sites in the Netherlands, France, and Belgium, with the goal of selecting a location for the first “Thorizon One” pilot deployment. The evaluation prioritises locations already licensed for nuclear research or power generation to streamline the regulatory path:
In the Netherlands, Thorizon has an “ambition agreement” with the Dutch nuclear operator EPZ to explore a non-nuclear molten salt demonstrator at the Borssele site. As a spin-off from NRG (which operates the High Flux Reactor in Petten), this area remains a key region for their R&D and potential pilot activities. The provinces of Zeeland and North Holland are active financial and strategic backers of the project.
In France, Thorizon established an engineering site in Lyon in early 2024 and is seeking a dedicated R&D centre in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region to produce cartridge prototypes and execute testing. The company also works closely with Orano for fuel recycling and development, making French nuclear-industrial hubs primary candidates for the first-of-a-kind reactor.
In Belgium, Thorizon is collaborating with the Belgian engineering firm Tractebel to evaluate designated sites within the Benelux region, targeting industrial customers who need high-temperature heat.
To facilitate deployment across these sites, the nuclear safety authorities of France (ASN) and the Netherlands (ANVS) are conducting a joint preparatory review of the design.
Thorizon has secured significant financial and strategic backing in both France and the Netherlands to support its construction target. This includes a €10m ($11.5m) French Government subsidy. In March 2024, Thorizon was selected as a winner of the “innovative nuclear reactors” call for projects under the France 2030 national investment plan. The grant is specifically earmarked for accelerating the development of the Thorizon One. It supports the entire innovation lifecycle, from basic research to industrialisation.
In August 2025, the EU awarded a further €10m from the Just Transition Fund (JTF) to the ZILT consortium, led by Thorizon. This project focuses specifically on laying groundwork in the Zeeland province.
