Framatome has fabricated the first lead fuel assemblies in Richland, USA, for the Barakah NPP in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This marks a significant milestone in implementation of the fuel supply agreement announced by Framatome and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) in July 2025, which aims to strengthen the UAE’s national energy security through the diversification of nuclear fuel supplies.
The delivery of these lead fuel assemblies is a key step of the signed agreement, which includes the supply of fuel assemblies. The Richland facility has received the US regulator’s highest Licensee Performance Review rating for 18 consecutive years, drawing on over 40 years’ experience with Combustion Engineering reactor fuel, with over 6,000 assemblies of this type supplied. Framatome will also provide engineering support services from its US headquarters in Lynchburg, Virginia.
A comprehensive testing programme will take place prior to commercial use of the assemblies as part of ENEC’s fuel qualification programme. This is designed to rigorously evaluate and verify the safety, compatibility, and performance of the new fuel design under actual operating conditions at the Barakah plant. Following completion and validation, ENEC will then move forward with the integration of these assemblies, supporting both operational reliability and regulatory compliance.
Framatome CEO Grégoire Ponchon said: “This milestone demonstrates the strength of our partnership with ENEC and our shared commitment to supporting the UAE’s clean energy ambitions. The successful fabrication of the first lead fuel assemblies is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our teams, and it underscores Framatome’s role as a trusted partner in the global nuclear industry.”
ENEC Managing Director and Group CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi, noted: “Our partnership with Framatome is an important component of our wider strategy to ensure a resilient fuel supply for Barakah. Framatome’s expertise and manufacturing capabilities align perfectly with ENEC’s commitment to the highest safety and performance standards – by strengthening Barakah’s fuel supply chain, we are supporting continued operational excellence and always-on power generation at Barakah to power the nation’s leading industries, businesses and of course our communities.”
Barakah is the first multi-unit operational NPP in the Arab world. Construction of the Barakah NPP began in 2011. Korea Electric Power Company (Kepco) led the consortium built the plant comprising four APR1400 reactors. Unit 1 began commercial operation in April 2021, unit 2 in 2022, unit 3 in 2023 and unit 4 in 2024. Together, the four units are expected to contribute up to 25% of the UAE’s National Determined Contributions to Net Zero and be the largest source of dispatchable clean electricity. Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) that built the plant. Kepco Korea Nuclear Fuels currently manufactures fuel assemblies for Barakah.
