France-based nuclear start-up Newcleo has received a favourable opinion from the council of the Aube Department region in eastern France for the sale of land in the Nogentais area as the site for a mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel manufacturing facility to fuel its planned small modular lead-cooled fast reactors. The fuel would be produced from nuclear materials recovered through the reprocessing of used fuel. In June 2022 newcleo had contracted France’s Orano for feasibility studies on the establishment of a MOX plant. Newcleo said the project would represent an initial investment of €1.8bn ($2bn) and could ultimately create 1,700 direct jobs.
Newcleo is also continuing administrative procedures for its LFR-AS-30 modular reactor project in Chinon, in coordination with local stakeholders, with the ambition of commissioning it by 2031. Newcleo, jointly with France’s electricity transmission operator RTE, has referred the matter to the National Commission for Public Debate (CNDP – La Commission Nationale du Débat Public).
The MOX plant is expected to scale its production capacity as needed and could ultimately include three production lines. The first line, scheduled for 2030, would involve up to 2,000 people during construction and generate 850 direct jobs. By 2040, an additional investment of €3.2bn could enable the creation of two more lines, bringing the total number of direct jobs at the site to 1,700.
In parallel, newcleo is progressing with the construction of its 30 MWe LFR-AS-30 modular nuclear reactor, which it plans to locate in the community of municipalities of Chinon, Vienne and Loire (Indre-et-Loire). This first reactor would offer, in addition to electricity generation, advanced research services and the production of medical isotopes. The company continues administrative procedures in close cooperation with local elected officials, aiming for commissioning by 2031.
Given the strategic nature, scale, socio-economic potential, and territorial and environmental impacts of the projects, newcleo referred the matter to the CNDP, which, in June confirmed the need to organise a public debate. This would concern “the proposed siting of a 30 MWe LFR-AS-30 nuclear reactor in the municipalities of Savigny-en-Véron and Beaumont-en-Véron, and a MOX fuel manufacturing facility for fast reactors in the municipalities of Pont-sur-Seine and Marnay-sur-Seine”. On 2 July, CNDP appointed Laurent Pavard as president of the special commission responsible for organising and leading the public debate.
In December 2024, newcleo submitted a safety options file (DOS) to the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) for its nuclear fuel manufacturing facility. The group is also conducting advanced regulatory work on the safety options for its LFR-AS-30 reactor. newcleo plans to submit construction authorisation applications (DAC) for both projects by the end of 2026.
“France has all the assets to develop a true circular economy in nuclear energy, serving national and European energy sovereignty and industrial competitiveness,” said newcleo founder and CEO Stefano Buono. “By setting up our future fuel manufacturing facility in the Aube, we would demonstrate that fourth-generation nuclear can transform what is today considered waste – spent fuel from other reactors – into a strategic resource for Europe. Our project illustrates our deep belief: through innovation and close collaboration between public and private stakeholders, France can become the leader of an innovative and export-oriented European nuclear sector.”
While newcleo’s website extols the virtues of the LFR, there is scant detail of the nuclear technology that will power the reactor, although there appears to be some progress on non-nuclear components of the design, which is still in the conceptual design stage.
Currently, the only operating liquid metal-cooled fast reactors are in Russia, using sodium as the coolant. Russia is also constructing the world’s first ever lead-cooled SMR (Brest-OD-300). This reactor is based on decades of complex research and development supported by the entire Russian nuclear industry. It is due to begin operation in 2029. By contrast, newcleo’s technologies remain in the very early conceptual design stage.
