Framatome has signed a technical cooperation agreement with the Czech research centre Centrum výzkumu Řež (CVŘ) to support innovative fuel solutions for the LVR-15 research reactor. This partnership focuses on establishing methodological frameworks to facilitate safe, flexible reactor operations when utilising mixed cores or various fuel types.
The agreement was signed by Mario Leberig, Vice President Fuel Design & Engineering at Framatome’s Fuel Business and Řež Director Petr Březina in the presence of Stéphane Crouzat, French Ambassador to the Czech Republic.
The LVR-15 is a 10 MWt open-pool, light-water-tank-type nuclear research reactor located at CVŘ. It was commissioned in 1957 and has undergone major overhauls (most notably in 1989) to update its stainless-steel vessel and safety systems. It functions as a vital neutron source for scientific, industrial, and medical applications across Central Europe.
The Framatome-CVŘ partnership focuses on supporting the safe, reliable and sustainable operation of CVŘ’s unique research infrastructures and builds on more than a decade of successful cooperation in nuclear safety research and fuel development.
The LVR‑15 research reactor is used both for material irradiation experiments and for the production of medical radioisotopes, including molybdenum‑99 for nuclear medicine diagnostics. The reactor operates in continuous monthly cycles and plays an important role in research on materials for nuclear power plants, advanced reactor systems, and fusion technologies.
Cooperation also extends to the LR‑0 reactor, a zero‑power reactor that represents one of the world’s leading facilities for the experimental validation of nuclear data and computational methods used in safety assessments of VVER‑ and PWR‑type nuclear power plants. Its unique neutron field is internationally recognised as a reference benchmark.
“Framatome is proud to support the Research Centre Řež and the operation of the Czech LVR-15 research reactor,” said Mario Leberig. “By combining our global expertise in nuclear engineering and fuel with the unique experimental facilities of Řež, we can together develop innovative fuel engineering support that will benefit research and nuclear energy development in the Czech Republic and Europe.”
CVŘ CEO Petr Březina noted: “This agreement marks an important milestone in our mission to contribute to the safe operation of the LVR-15 reactor. By working with Framatome, we can further strengthen our research capabilities and our contribution to nuclear science, technology, and education in the Czech Republic and Europe.”
Framatome and CVŘ will now set up a joint working group to carry out preparatory work, including the development of neutronics calculation models based on the LVR‑15 research reactor operational experience. The partners will jointly define the engineering approach and the analyses required for mixed core analysis and future optimisation scenarios.
In recent years, CVŘ and Framatome have successfully cooperated on projects such as LEU‑FOREVER, focused on the development of low‑enriched uranium (LEU) fuel for European research reactors. The fuel was developed, manufactured, licensed and irradiated over the long term in the LVR‑15 reactor. These activities are now followed by the EU‑CONVERSION project (2024–2028).
Another area of cooperation includes experimental projects such as EVANS (Experimental Validation of Advanced Neutronics Codes for Safety), which provide unique experimental data to enhance the safety of nuclear power plants, support licensing processes, and validate computational tools used in the design of fuel and reactor cores. EVANS was financed by a €1.2m ($1.3m) grant from the French National Research Agency (ANR) and the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TA ČR).
